The objective is to promote actions in search of new, more sustainable guidelines in the production chain, which directly affects issues such as biodiversity, climate change and better use of water resources.
Rio de Janeiro, May 11, 2021 – The Business Council for Sustainable Development (CEBDS) and around 14 of its signatory companies (see list below) today release the Positioning of the business sector on the sustainability of Food Systems in Brazil, which in addition to guiding the business and CEBDS agenda in the long term, will articulate the theme until the 1st UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS), scheduled to take place in September. The event will extract the best evidence, ideas and experiences from around the world to inform new and more sustainable guidelines for food systems.
The concern about this issue is not without reason, since food systems influence the climate, biodiversity, water resources and society as a whole. To give you an idea, globally more than 30% of food production is lost or wasted, which, when compared to a country's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, would be equivalent to the third largest emitting country in the world ranking. It is worth noting that lost or wasted food emits greenhouse gases, because in addition to using up all the resources needed to produce it and deliver it to consumers, its decomposition in landfills is extremely harmful to the environment.
CEBDS and the signatory companies are mobilizing and defending seven priority actions. They are:
- Scaling low-carbon, regenerative, higher-productivity, precision agriculture;
- Train farmers to adopt more resilient and sustainable production methods;
- Reduce losses and waste;
- Ensure traceability and certification for sustainable production and legality throughout the production chain, through the adoption of control, inspection and monitoring standards for the production chain and environmental accountability;
- Raise awareness among consumers about healthy and sustainable choices;
- Increase access to healthy and sustainable diets;
- Strengthen scientific data and communicate it throughout the production chain.
“CEBDS and the signatory companies understand that these priority actions will be able to serve as a basis for advancing the transformation of food systems in Brazil. Improving initiatives for a better food system is of great importance, if we take into account that in 30 years there will be 10 billion people in the world who will need to be fed with nutritional quality, with diverse and sustainable production”, Marina Grossi, president of CEBDS. “It is important that the business sector mobilize, clarifying and advocating the priority points, so that Brazil is at the forefront of the negotiations and commitments that will follow the UN Summit”, adds Marina. CEBDS will take the agenda, among other events, to the National Dialogue on Food Systems organized by Itamaraty on May 14. CEBDS will take the agenda, among other events, to the National Dialogue on Food Systems organized by Itamaraty on May 14.
The position will be shared with the government, such as the Ministries of Agriculture, Foreign Affairs and Citizenship, as well as national and international leaders of entities such as the Consumer Goods Forum, Food Action Alliance, FAO Brazil, Embrapa, among others. The document can be found on the CEBDS website at LINK.
LIST OF COMPANIES THAT HAVE SIGNED
| Amaggi, Bayer, Carrefour, Ceptis, DSM, Ecolab, ERM Brazil, Sabará Group, I Care & Consult, JBS, Marfrig, Nestlé, Schneider Electric Brazil Ltda., SESC and Tozzini Freire Advogados. |
About CEBDS
The Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development (CEBDS) is a non-profit civil association that promotes sustainable development through articulation with governments and civil society, in addition to disseminating the most current concepts and practices on the subject. Founded in 1997, it brings together around 60 of the largest business groups in the country, responsible for more than 1 million direct jobs. It represents in Brazil the network of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), which has almost 60 national and regional councils in 36 countries and 22 industrial sectors, in addition to 200 business groups that operate in all continents. More information: https://cebds.org/
Press service
Approach Communication – cebds@approach.com.br
Christiane Ferreira – christiane.ferreira@approch.com.br – Tel: 13 9 9612 – 2001
