
Food and Agriculture Benchmark
The Food and Agriculture Benchmark will measure and rank 350 keystone companies on key issues underpinning the food systems transformation agenda.
Aim
To achieve the SDGs by 2030, we need transformational change from farm to fork. Food systems transformation requires large-scale and fundamental action led by those who drive environmental, health and social pressures in the system.
The benchmark’s aim is to stimulate the most influential food and agriculture companies to apply sustainable business practices throughout their operations as well as use their influence to encourage value chain partners to do the same.
Read more about our seven systems transformations
Assessing the commitments of the 350 food and agriculture companies
See our key findingsMilestones
For the development of the Food and Agriculture Benchmark, WBA follows a five-year roadmap. Throughout, it will align with relevant agendas of global platforms and initiatives so that the data, key findings and recommendations can be integrated into broader stakeholder actions and community outreach. A central moment in this five-year roadmap is the publication of the first Benchmark in the fall of 2021. This Benchmark will identify clear frontrunners of the food system transformation agenda.
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Selection of 350 keystone food and agriculture companies
June 2019
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Methodology framework
July 2020
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Snapshot on commitments: Baseline report
December 2020
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Methodology report
Early 2021
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Benchmark publication at the UN Food Systems Summit
Autumn 2021
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Second benchmark publication
2022
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Third benchmark publication
2023
Methodology
Numerous recent publications have reiterated the link between food, the environment, health and well-being, as well as the urgent need for food systems transformation. For the private sector to play its part, we need consensus on how to get there and what is expected of businesses, in addition to better and more timely insights into actual performance.
This methodology brings together the key topics and issues on which society expects companies to take action and is the result of extensive expert and stakeholder consultations over the past two years. The report describes the development process for the methodology, indicators, approaches to scoring and weighting, and a timeline for the benchmark.
Read the methodologySpotlight benchmarks

Seafood stewardship Index
Three billion people rely on seafood as an essential part of their diet. Providing this nutritious food presents serious challenges for the seafood industry. The largest companies can address these issues. Including food insecurity in developing countries, human rights violations and illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing worldwide.
Go to benchmark
Access to Seeds Index
Hunger is a daily reality for almost one billion people around the world. The global population is expected to grow by a further two billion in the coming decades, precisely in those regions that are currently considered food insecure. Improving access to seeds for farmers in those regions is key to meeting future food demands. This is where the seed industry can play a crucial role.
Go to benchmarkThe Expert Review Committee
The Food and Agriculture Benchmark is developed in close collaboration with an Expert Review Committee (ERC), which members support the core team with their expertise and experience.
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Aaron Hay
Lead Engager, Hermes Investment
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Ann Tutwiler
Senior Fellow, Meridian Institute
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Chris Brett
Lead Agribusiness Specialist, World Bank
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Danielle Sadi Carreira
Environment & Climate Consultant
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Diane Holdorf
Managing Director Food & Nature, World Business Council For Sustainable Development (WBCSD)
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Fabrice DeClerck
Science Director, EAT Foundation
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Guido Schmidt-Traub
Executive Director, UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network
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Henk Peters
Inclusive Value Chain Advisor, Oxfam
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Jessica Fanzo
Associate Professor of Global Food & Agricultural Policy, John Hopkins University
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Michael Ojo
Country Director Nigeria, GAIN
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Pascal Murasira
Independent Agri-business Consultant, Wageningen University
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Shachi Gurumayum Sharma
Director, AgriMayum
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Yewande Kazeem
Founder, Wandieville Media
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Didier Bergeret
Director of Social Sustainability & SSCI
Get involved
As we build our work, we continue to engage with stakeholders across the globe through targeted communications with key organisations and representatives. We also encourage meaningful and constructive feedback.
