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The briefing addresses the lack of standardised definitions for sustainable agriculture, which increases the risk of greenwashing. It examines four representative production systems—regenerative, ecological intensification, sustainable intensification, and organic agriculture—and argues that sustainability should be assessed based on specific management practices rather than broad system labels. The author categorises practices into 'Always', 'Usually', and 'Sometimes' sustainable based on environmental impact, while emphasizing that all must meet 'do no significant harm' (DNSH) social standards. It identifies uncontrolled deforestation and the conversion of high-carbon stocks as permanently unsustainable practices.

The report examines the global coffee market, highlighting the vulnerability of smallholder farmers to climate change and price volatility. It analyzes the impact of voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs), noting that while VSS-compliant production grew significantly between 2008 and 2019, it has recently faced a decline due to oversupply and a shift toward corporate sustainability programs. The document argues that sustaining the sector requires internalizing environmental costs, increasing demand for sustainable coffee in producing countries, and implementing living income reference prices to ensure fair compensation for farmers.

Mighty Earth is calling on Groupe Carrefour to sever ties with major suppliers linked to deforestation in the Amazon and Cerrado, specifically JBS, Bunge, and Cargill. The organization demands the adoption of a 'Zero Deforestation, Zero Conversion' policy by 2025 for beef and 2023 for soy, alongside a commitment to reduce animal product sales by 50% and Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030.

The report highlights a disconnect between business-as-usual growth projections for animal agriculture and climate science, which predicts significant production losses and stranded assets. A survey of 201 investors reveals that while 82% view climate change as a material risk to meat and dairy investments, 55% believe investors are not sufficiently addressing these risks. The document emphasizes the critical need for methane reduction, noting that livestock is responsible for 32% of anthropogenic methane emissions, and calls for financial institutions to demand transparent reporting and support a transition toward alternative proteins.

The document outlines the reciprocal relationship between food systems and climate change, noting that agriculture and food systems contribute 31% of global greenhouse gas emissions. It encourages journalists to move beyond 'problem' stories by highlighting systemic solutions, such as regenerative agriculture and the reduction of food waste, while emphasizing the importance of climate justice and the role of women in agriculture. The guide specifically highlights the impact of industrial agriculture, the vulnerability of global food systems exacerbated by conflict and pandemics, and the critical need to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius to maintain food security.

The report analyzes the intersection of voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) and sustainable finance in eight agricultural commodity sectors. It argues that while VSSs effectively address environmental and social risks—such as deforestation and labor rights—they often lack the rigorous economic and business management criteria that financial service providers (FSPs) require for due diligence. By benchmarking 12 VSSs against sustainable finance frameworks, the document identifies gaps in areas like corruption prevention, economic viability, and climate adaptation. It recommends that VSSs align their criteria with FSP needs, that FSPs develop preferential loan programs for certified farmers, and that governments support land tenure and infrastructure to improve investment readiness.

The document argues that Kenya's coffee sector, which employs 30% of the agricultural workforce, faces existential risks from climate change and declining production. It proposes 17 specific Sustainable Consumption and Production Practices (SCPs) across the value chain—from farm-level organic fertilizers and shade trees to factory-level eco-pulping and the use of renewable energy in milling—to increase yields and reduce environmental impacts. The brief recommends that the Kenyan government incorporate SCPs into national coffee reforms, provide subsidies for sustainable technology, and enhance capacity-building through extension officers.

The report argues that South African agriculture faces urgent climate risks, including temperature rises of 2 to 4 °C by 2050, but suffers from a significant climate finance gap. It highlights opportunities in AgTech, regenerative agriculture, and renewable energy, while recommending the use of innovative instruments like blended finance and sustainability-linked loans to overcome barriers such as high transaction costs and a lack of bankable project pipelines.

The 2022 Sustainable Agriculture Market Intelligence Report by GreenCape outlines key investment opportunities in South Africa's agricultural sector, focusing on energy efficiency, renewable energy, regenerative agriculture, controlled environment agriculture (CEA), smart farming, and electric equipment. It highlights the dual nature of the South African agricultural economy and the specific role of the Western Cape as a greentech hub. The report details the drivers for sustainable transition, such as rising input costs and resource scarcity, and examines the impact of national policies like the Carbon Tax Act and international strategies such as the EU's Farm to Fork strategy.

The report examines the transition to regenerative agriculture across four case studies (Braga Fresh, Fresh Del Monte, Shepherd’s Grain, and Zirkle), finding that while regenerative practices can reduce input costs and improve soil health, they often lead to higher initial food losses. It argues that 'circularity'—measuring and repurposing on-farm loss—is essential to mitigate these risks and boost economic resilience. The document highlights a disconnect between buyer demands for sustainable produce and their unwillingness to pay price premiums or adjust strict cosmetic specifications, which hinders the scaling of regenerative practices.

The document describes the ecological importance of South Africa's grasslands as critical water sources and carbon sinks, and details a 2022-2025 WWF project in the north Eastern Cape. This project aims to support communal and commercial sheep farmers through mapping, training, and the implementation of regenerative land-use practices to improve biodiversity and carbon storage.

The report details the outcomes of a five-year partnership between WWF South Africa and Woolworths, highlighting achievements in sustainable seafood sourcing, water stewardship in key catchments, regenerative agriculture, and the reduction of food waste and plastic pollution.

The document introduces the WWF Conservation Champions initiative in the Cape Winelands of South Africa. It highlights the ecological importance of the Cape Floral Kingdom and Succulent Karoo biodiversity hotspots and describes how participating farms reduce environmental impact through regenerative practices, water stewardship, and the removal of invasive alien vegetation. The programme currently works with over 55 environmental leaders in the wine and fruit industries to protect critical habitats and ensure long-term sustainability through strategic partnerships.

The document describes a partnership between WWF South Africa, Conservation South Africa, and other partners to transition communal sheep farming in the north Eastern Cape to regenerative practices. The project aims to regenerate 11,000 hectares of land and support 380 people across nine grazing associations. By using conservation agreements, the project incentivizes farmers to adopt planned rotational grazing to prevent soil erosion and biodiversity loss in exchange for benefits such as vaccinations, training, and fair market access for wool. The initiative is supported by the Regenerative Fund for Nature, launched by Kering and Conservation International.

The livestock sector's growth poses a significant risk to climate goals, potentially consuming 80% of the remaining GHG budget by 2050 if current trends continue. While global meat production is rising—projected to reach 374 million tonnes by 2030—there is a growing market for Alternative Protein (AP) products, valued at USD 14 bn and expected to exceed USD 162 bn within a decade. However, the transition is hindered by substantial government subsidies, with nearly 90% of global farming subsidies (USD 540 bn annually) supporting beef, milk, and rice. The document emphasizes that while total veganism offers the highest emission reductions, flexitarian and vegetarian diets can also significantly lower emissions. It calls for government policy reforms to redirect subsidies away from industrial agriculture and for businesses to move beyond 'meaningless' net zero targets toward actual reductions in animal numbers in supply chains.

The South African Youth Climate Action Plan (SA YCAP) is a comprehensive framework developed by young people aged 13-30 to advocate for an intersectional and just transition to a decarbonised economy. It calls for the integration of youth in policymaking, the implementation of a national climate education plan, and a shift from fossil fuel dependency to decentralised renewable energy. The plan emphasizes the need for good governance to combat corruption in climate finance and proposes specific nature-based solutions and sustainable agricultural practices to protect South Africa's biodiversity and food security.

ClientEarth critiques the current EU agricultural and fisheries policies for failing to meet sustainability targets and urges the European Commission to adopt a new, comprehensive legislative framework. The organization argues that existing tools like the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) are insufficient or poorly implemented. It advocates for an 'umbrella law' that covers the entire food value chain, integrates fundamental rights and access to justice, and utilizes public procurement to drive systemic change toward environmentally positive and healthy food systems.

The report identifies five key Water-Smart Agriculture (WSA) innovation clusters in South Africa: irrigation systems, smart farming, undercover farming, sustainable practices, and drought-tolerant crops. While commercial farms have adopted many of these technologies due to economies of scale, adoption remains low among smallholder and emerging farmers. The analysis estimates significant market sizes for high-tech greenhouses (R11.78 billion) and no-till machinery (R4.48 billion), while identifying remote sensing services as a high-growth area. Major barriers include high upfront costs, limited technical skills, and an unfriendly regulatory environment. The report recommends developing innovative financing models, increasing farmer awareness, and strengthening government support through tax rebates and policy integration.

IISD conducted a series of internal brainstorms, stakeholder interviews, and literature reviews to identify gaps in Canada's sustainable food systems policy. The findings highlight a need for a holistic 'systems approach' that integrates social equity with economic and environmental goals. IISD identifies five priority areas for future work: emissions reduction strategies, incentives for sustainable practices, data tracking, fiscal analysis for agricultural resiliency, and the promotion of equitable food policy development.

The Food Securities Fund, managed by Clarmondial, provides working capital loans to agricultural aggregators in developing markets to promote sustainable land management and climate mitigation. The fund utilizes risk blending, including a USD 37.5 million USAID credit guarantee and USD 15 million from the Global Environment Facility, to attract institutional investors from Europe and the US. In March 2021, the fund began operations with an investment in East African coffee production supporting nearly 4,000 smallholder farmers using regenerative practices.