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

2021 Food and Agriculture Benchmark

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Milestones

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.

  1. Selection of 350 keystone food and agriculture companies

    June 2019

  2. Methodology framework

    July 2020

  3. Snapshot on commitments: Baseline report

    December 2020

  4. Methodology report

    March 2021

  5. Benchmark publication at the UN Food Systems Summit

    September 2021

  6. Second benchmark publication

    2023

Updates

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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 methodology

Spotlight 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 benchmark

The Expert Review Committee

The Food and Agriculture Benchmark is developed in close collaboration with an Expert Review Committee (ERC), whose members support the core team with their expertise and experience.

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.

Viktoria de Bourbon de Parme

Lead Food and Agriculture Transformation

Meet the team

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