What's the news right now about an environmentally sound,
socially responsible and economically viable beef value chain?

Most of you will have heard of Cyclone Gabrielle and the impact it had on the North Island of New Zealand last week. The effects will be long lasting, and cover many hundreds of thousands of acres / hectares as well as homes, infrastructure, power and water supplies, and communications.

Thousands of people are still cut off from power and communications. For many communities, particularly in more remote rural areas, the coming months will be very difficult. Coming on top of the economic issues created by the global pandemic, this is a severe blow to the whole country, including members of the New Zealand Roundtable for Sustainable Beef.

Please think of the farmers and ranchers and their staff who have lost houses, stock, fences and whose land has been flooded with silt or have slips over large areas. If you are in a position to give financial assistance, both the Federated Farmers of New Zealand and the Red Cross have set up disaster funds.

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I had the opportunity to attend the Australian Beef Sustainability Framework's (ABSF) Consultative Committee meeting in Brisbane last week. ABSF is working on goal setting, and it was excellent to see the level of engagement and commitment to that process, as well as an inspiration to be part of the discussions in the areas of economic resilience and social goals. As GRSB is also considering a social goal this year, it was useful to hear the breadth of issues that people might consider covering in this area.

GRSB’s Principle on People and the Community represents our current position on social issues and is a starting point for discussions around a social goal. Of course there could be additions, and it is possible that some issues that are included in the criteria are not easy to cover in a SMART goal. However, it’s worth looking over our P&C Principle to remind ourselves of what we put there.

"Global sustainable beef stakeholders protect and respect human rights, and recognize the critical roles that all participants within the beef value chain play in their community regarding culture, heritage, employment, land rights and health."

One of the foundational documents we quoted at that time was the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, otherwise known as the Ruggie Principles, which are built on the pillars of:

These principles apply to all states and business enterprises and include adherence to the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, which were amended in 2022.

When adopted, the Declaration covered freedom of association and the effective right to collective bargaining, the elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour, the effective abolition of child labour, and the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.

On 11 June 2022, the International Labour Conference amended this Declaration by adding to it a safe and healthy working environment as a fifth principle and right.

These are all areas that our members support, but there are wider aspects to our social goal that also require consideration including recognizing and respecting the cultural heritage and way of life of all parties throughout the value chain, acknowledging and respecting land and property rights throughout the value chain, engaging positively with and supporting the local community and others.

The challenge we will have is to set a goal with SMART indicators that cover areas over which our members can effect change. The Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) landscape and some of its foundations have moved on since we set our principles and criteria. It is important that GRSB remains not only current with these developments, but is ambitious and innovative in this field.

In my last Connect, I wondered whether there is a role for us in considering nutrition, without simply promoting consumption. Similar concerns might apply to including economic indicators: Our members have to be profitable to be sustainable. We all understand that. To what extent can that be covered by a goal in which our members can effect change?

Thank you, 

Ruardaidh Petre
Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef
Executive Director
22 February 2023

When discussing a social goal, the first thing that comes to mind is the societal role livestock farming has in my region, especially its cultural value beyond its economic impact and its importance for our most vulnerable populations.

Livestock is of key importance for Latin America and the Caribbean as it represents a source of basic food and food security for the population. It is a fundamental sector for the economy of the countries of the region. The livestock sector represents 46% of Latin America's agricultural gross domestic product and has grown at an annual rate of 3.7%, higher than the world average growth rate (FAO).

Family livestock production plays a preponderant role in solving the problem of hunger in the region.

The potential contribution of this sector to the agricultural economy of the countries and to food security depends, in most cases, on being able to receive animal health and veterinary services in a timely manner. Technical assistance and other support are also required to guarantee the sustainability of their production systems.

Particularly for the poor population, livestock can be an important means to allow them to increase their potential, but that is not the only benefit.

The sale and consumption of animal products can reduce household vulnerability to seasonal food and income deprivations, meet broader food security needs, and improve the nutritional status of the most vulnerable, especially women, children, and seniors.

Livestock farming can also protect households from crises such as drought and other natural disasters. Animal ownership can increase the ability of households and individuals to meet their social obligations and enhance cultural identity.

Livestock is also a basic source of collateral for the poor and allows many households to gain access to capital and business loans. Thus, livestock are an important capital asset that, with careful attention, can give households a lift out of extreme poverty and benefit from market economies (source: FAO).

I would like these points to be considered in the social goal discussion, where the least developed countries feel identified and can focus their actions on improving social and economic impacts, while livestock farming continues to improve the quality of life of rural producers.

Thank you,

Josefina Eisele
Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef
Regional Director, South America 

Exciting Events Include:

SYMPOSIUM:
The Link Between Carbon Sequestration and Biodiversity
The symposium will present regional and global experts in carbon sequestration and biodiversity and how sustainable livestock may provide solutions.

Colombian Innovation Tour
This tour will border the Caribbean coast to learn about the livestock landscapes typical of the Tropical Dry Forest ecosystem. It will demonstrate the advances, difficulties, and challenges of sustainably transforming livestock production systems for the well-being of farmers and rural communities, under a territorial approach.

Meetings of
GRSB Member Regional & National Roundtables
& GRSB Board of Directors
27 March 2023
GHL Corales de Indias Hotel, Cartagena, Colombia

There will be opportunities for all participants ask question and to join in the discussion!
This session will feature English to Spanish simultaneous translation.

We are delighted to welcome you as a GRSB member. We look forward to working with you.

Members only access. 

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