Private-Public Collaboration for Global Food Security through Good Agricultural Practices Launched in Abu Dhabi

28 Oct Private-Public Collaboration for Global Food Security through Good Agricultural Practices Launched in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi, U.A.E, 28 October 2014

Today, a pioneering collaboration of public and private sector partners is launching the ‘Declaration of Abu Dhabi for Global Food Security through Good Agricultural Practices’.  Initiated by GLOBALG.A.P., Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (SAI) Platform, and the International Trade Centre (ITC), the collaboration aims to identify, align and implement practical and viable solutions in response to growing global food security challenges. Early signatories to the Declaration include Unilever, METRO, Nestlé SA, VBT – Association of Belgian Horticultural Cooperatives, GS1, The Sustainability Consortium, and LEAF.

The launch event is being held in conjunction with the GLOBALG.A.P. SUMMIT 2014 on a special day dedicated to this Declaration, during which signtories are sharing their support for the Declaration and participating in an official signing ceremony. The signatories convene for their inaugural assembly on 29 October, where an inclusive and democratic governance structure, transparent process and initial milestones are taking shape.

The initiative is an open call for global collaboration to find new approaches that will make it easier, more cost effective, and more attractive for farmers worldwide to adopt safe, responsible and sustainable production practices. This will make markets more accessible for farmers, and help them sustain their livelihoods as well as reduce poverty and malnutrition.

The Declaration of Abu Dhabi unites public and private partners committed to developing and adopting three important measures:

  1. A common set of good agricultural practices.
  2. A system for uniquely identifying every farm that is recognized by all stakeholders.
  3. A mechanism for securing the commitment and reporting by supply chain partners.

The common set of practices builds upon established and ongoing work in all aspects of good agriculture and aquaculture practices, including food safety, environmental sustainability, and social responsibility. The common set of practices will draw upon existing standards and assessment tools. The resulting resource will provide broad, consistent, open-source language for sustainability criteria, applicable to farms of all sizes worldwide.

The collaboration will also establish a system for uniquely identifying every farm, and ensuring a public reporting mechanism for supply chains. Together, the common set of good agricultural practices and the unique farm identification and reporting mechanism, will serve as a foundation upon which diverse training, assessment and verification programs may be adapted and built, and impacts may be measured.

Through a video address, Puvan Selvanathan, Head of Food & Agriculture at the United Nation Global Compact said, “The UN Global Compact is fully committed to collaborating with The Declaration of Abu Dhabi. We want to ensure alignment. We want to avoid duplication of efforts.  And we want to maximize our collective impact.”

 

Download press release here.

Download press release in Arabic here.