2023 Food and Agriculture Benchmark
October 2023
The second iteration of the Food and Agriculture Benchmark ranks the sustainability performance of the 350 most influential companies. This benchmark follows the first iteration published in 2021 alongside the UN Food Systems Summit, assessing companies from farm to fork on their environmental, nutritional and social impact.
While climate shocks are increasingly impacting the most vulnerable and hunger is still above pre-pandemic levels, the data shows that the vast majority of companies fail to recognise their responsibility to protect the planet and feed the world in an equitable way. The Food and Agriculture Benchmark aims to provide a tool for stakeholders to hold the sector accountable for its role in contributing to healthier, more sustainable and equitable food systems.
Five key findings
The 2023 iteration shows a shake-up in the top 25, with nine new companies taking leading positions and two companies in the top 10 based in the Global South. We see more companies reducing their carbon footprint and adopting regenerative agriculture practices, but very few putting people at the centre of this transition. Moreover, 122 companies, 35% of the 350 most influential companies, score 10/100 or lower and thus still fail to recognise their role and impact on sustainable food systems. This underlines the importance of holding laggers accountable to ensure that the entire sector is able to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals.
Companies are not closing farmers’ living income gaps
The 350 companies in scope source at least 30 different food commodities, such as coffee, cocoa and palm oil, from around 75 million small-scale producers based in 40 low-and middle-income countries. Most of these countries are impacted by persistent poverty. Thus, companies need to address farmers’ income challenges. Encouragingly, 27% of companies support farmers’ income stability through procurement and pricing practices. However, less than 4% of companies identify living income benchmarks or calculate living income gaps. These steps are crucial to design impactful and tailored interventions that support farming households to earn a sufficient income for a decent standard of living, while considering the diverse realities of farmers across the globe.
Food companies are not prioritising health
Malnutrition impacts approximately a third of the global population. We need urgent action from companies to help prevent food insecurity, micronutrient deficiencies and diet-related diseases. Currently, only 49 (18%) consumer-facing companies share progress on their reformulation activities to improve the nutritional quality of their products, and just five companies have set targets to increase sales of healthy foods, with retailers leading the way. As food-away-from-home is rapidly expanding across the globe, restaurants and food service providers in particular need to step up. In South-East Asia for example, many people consume one or more out-of-home meals daily. However, most companies serving these people fail to make their food offerings healthier.
More companies have set climate targets, but progress remains low
Food systems are responsible for a third of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Encouragingly, 46 companies have adopted GHG reduction targets in line with the 1.5°C trajectory for their scope 1 and 2 emissions, and they report progress against those targets. This is an increase from 27 companies in 2021. Additionally, 13 companies have set a science-based scope 3 target, which is up from 7 companies in 2021. At the same time, 165 companies are yet to disclose any commitments in this area. This is a concern because without urgent action by food and agriculture companies, the Paris Agreement is out of reach.
Regenerative agriculture is gaining traction, except when it comes to input use
With almost 50% of agricultural lands moderately to severely degraded, regenerative agriculture practices are hailed as an important lever to restore soil health, increase climate resilience, protect water resources and biodiversity, and enhance farmers' productivity and profitability. This approach has gained traction with 51% of companies assessed referencing it and 27% implementing strategies to improve livelihoods of farmers and fishers through procurement practices and pricing strategies. Worryingly, less than 10% of companies disclose data on optimising the use of fertilisers, and only around 4% of companies disclose data on minimising the use of pesticides.
Lack of corporate accountability hinders meaningful change
In the two years since the UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS), progress has been made but not enough to unlock the sector’s transformative potential. More than half of the 350 companies assessed undertake a materiality assessment to identify and prioritise their most relevant sustainability impacts, but only 27 companies follow through with a comprehensive set of sustainability targets. The biennial UNFSS Stocktaking Moment has the potential to embed corporate accountability to ensure that companies across the value chain scale up their efforts. WBA continues to work with its Alliance members and food systems stakeholders to drive this process forward and articulate companies’ roles and responsibilities in the context of global food systems.
See how the companies performed
View rankingFurther reading
350 Food companies worldwide
Locations
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Title: Indofood
Place: Indonesia
Description: -
Title: Viterra
Place: Netherlands
Description: -
Title: Bajaj Hindusthan Sugar
Place: India
Description: -
Title: Groupe Casino
Place: France
Description: -
Title: Astra Agro Lestari
Place: Indonesia
Description: -
Title: Nutreco
Place: Netherlands
Description: -
Title: Citrosuco
Place: Brazil
Description: -
Title: Syngenta Group
Place: China
Description: -
Title: Sobeys
Place: Canada
Description: -
Title: Dole
Place: Ireland
Description: -
Title: KRBL
Place: India
Description: -
Title: RusAgro
Place: Russian Federation
Description: -
Title: Monster Beverage
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Brown-Forman
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Newrest
Place: France
Description: -
Title: Loblaw
Place: Canada
Description: -
Title: Nomad Foods
Place: United Kingdom
Description: -
Title: Guizhou Phosphate Chemical Group
Place: China
Description: -
Title: Alfamart
Place: Indonesia
Description: -
Title: AmRest
Place: Spain
Description: -
Title: Arcos Dorados
Place: Uruguay
Description: -
Title: Bolton Group
Place: Italy
Description: -
Title: Brinker International
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Bumitama Agri
Place: Singapore
Description: -
Title: Century Pacific Food
Place: Philippines
Description: -
Title: Domino's
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Grupo Comercial Chedraui
Place: Mexico
Description: -
Title: Inspire Brands
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Performance Food Group
Place: United States
Description: -
Title: Tanganda Tea Company
Place: Zimbabwe
Description: -
Title: Thai Union Group
Place: Thailand
Description: -
Title: The Hershey Company
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Tiger Brands
Place: South Africa
Description: -
Title: Tingyi
Place: China
Description: -
Title: Tokyo Seika
Place: Japan
Description: -
Title: Tongaat Hulett
Place: South Africa
Description: -
Title: Tongwei
Place: China
Description: -
Title: Toennies
Place: Germany
Description: -
Title: TreeHouse Foods
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Trident Seafoods
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Tyson Foods
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Unilever
Place: United Kingdom
Description: -
Title: Union Invivo
Place: France
Description: -
Title: Uni-President
Place: Taiwan
Description: -
Title: Universal Robina
Place: Philippines
Description: -
Title: UPL
Place: India
Description: -
Title: US Foods
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Van Drie Group
Place: Netherlands
Description: -
Title: Vinamilk
Place: Vietnam
Description: -
Title: Vion
Place: Netherlands
Description: -
Title: Wadia Group
Place: India
Description: -
Title: Walmart
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Want Want China
Place: China
Description: -
Title: Wen's Foodstuff
Place: China
Description: -
Title: WH Group
Place: Hong Kong SAR, China
Description: -
Title: Wilbur-Ellis
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Wilmar International
Place: Singapore
Description: -
Title: Wm Morrison Supermarkets
Place: United Kingdom
Description: -
Title: Wonderful Company
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Woolworths Group
Place: Australia
Description: -
Title: Wuliangye Yibin
Place: China
Description: -
Title: X5 Retail Group
Place: Russian Federation
Description: -
Title: Yamazaki Baking
Place: Japan
Description: -
Title: Yara
Place: Norway
Description: -
Title: Yildiz
Place: Turkey
Description: -
Title: Yili Group
Place: China
Description: -
Title: Yonghui Superstores
Place: China
Description: -
Title: Yum China
Place: China
Description: -
Title: Yum! Brands
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: ZEN-NOH
Place: Japan
Description: -
Title: Zensho
Place: Japan
Description: -
Title: Zespri
Place: New Zealand
Description: -
Title: Groupe Pomona
Place: France
Description: -
Title: Sumitomo Chemical
Place: Japan
Description: -
Title: Schreiber
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Reliance Retail
Place: India
Description: -
Title: Sigma Alimentos
Place: Mexico
Description: -
Title: Post
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Publix Super Markets
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: RCL Foods
Place: South Africa
Description: -
Title: Red Chamber Group
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Restaurant Brands International
Place: Canada
Description: -
Title: Rewe Group
Place: Germany
Description: -
Title: Roquette
Place: France
Description: -
Title: Sainsbury's
Place: United Kingdom
Description: -
Title: Salling Group
Place: Denmark
Description: -
Title: San Miguel Food and Beverage
Place: Philippines
Description: -
Title: Sanderson Farms
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Saputo
Place: Canada
Description: -
Title: Savencia
Place: France
Description: -
Title: Savola Group
Place: Saudi Arabia
Description: -
Title: Biomar
Place: Denmark
Description: -
Title: Schwarz Gruppe
Place: Germany
Description: -
Title: Seven & I
Place: Japan
Description: -
Title: Shandong Bohi
Place: China
Description: -
Title: Shoprite
Place: South Africa
Description: -
Title: Sime Darby Plantation
Place: Malaysia
Description: -
Title: Sociedad Quimica y Minera
Place: Chile
Description: -
Title: Sodexo
Place: France
Description: -
Title: Sodiaal
Place: France
Description: -
Title: Southern States Cooperative
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: SSP Group
Place: United Kingdom
Description: -
Title: Starbucks
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Starzen
Place: Japan
Description: -
Title: Subway
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Sucden
Place: France
Description: -
Title: Suedzucker
Place: Germany
Description: -
Title: Suguna Foods
Place: India
Description: -
Title: Sunkist Growers
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Suntory
Place: Japan
Description: -
Title: Symrise
Place: Germany
Description: -
Title: Sysco
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Tate & Lyle
Place: United Kingdom
Description: -
Title: Taylor Farms
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Tereos
Place: France
Description: -
Title: Terrena
Place: France
Description: -
Title: Tesco
Place: United Kingdom
Description: -
Title: Thai Beverage
Place: Thailand
Description: -
Title: Thai Roong Ruang
Place: Thailand
Description: -
Title: Mitsui
Place: Japan
Description: -
Title: Molinos
Place: Argentina
Description: -
Title: Molson Coors
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Mondelez International
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Mosaic
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Mowi
Place: Norway
Description: -
Title: Mueller
Place: Germany
Description: -
Title: Murugappa Group
Place: India
Description: -
Title: Musim Mas
Place: Singapore
Description: -
Title: Muyuan Foods
Place: China
Description: -
Title: Nestlé
Place: Switzerland
Description: -
Title: New Hope Group
Place: China
Description: -
Title: NH Foods
Place: Japan
Description: -
Title: Nichirei
Place: Japan
Description: -
Title: Nissui Corporation
Place: Japan
Description: -
Title: Nisshin Seifun Group
Place: Japan
Description: -
Title: National Agricultural Cooperative Federation
Place: Republic of Korea
Description: -
Title: Nordzucker
Place: Germany
Description: -
Title: NorgesGruppen
Place: Norway
Description: -
Title: Novozymes
Place: Denmark
Description: -
Title: Nueva Pescanova
Place: Spain
Description: -
Title: Nufarm
Place: Australia
Description: -
Title: Nutrien
Place: Canada
Description: -
Title: Ocean Spray Cranberries
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: OCP
Place: Morocco
Description: -
Title: Oetker
Place: Germany
Description: -
Title: Olam International
Place: Singapore
Description: -
Title: Organizacion Soriana
Place: Mexico
Description: -
Title: Orkla
Place: Norway
Description: -
Title: OSI Group
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: OUG
Place: Japan
Description: -
Title: Pacific Seafood Group
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Parlevliet & Van der Plas
Place: Netherlands
Description: -
Title: People's Food
Place: China
Description: -
Title: PepsiCo
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Perdue Farms
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Perfetti van Melle
Place: Netherlands
Description: -
Title: Pernod Ricard
Place: France
Description: -
Title: PhosAgro
Place: Russian Federation
Description: -
Title: PHW Group
Place: Germany
Description: -
Title: Pick N Pay Stores
Place: South Africa
Description: -
Title: JBS
Place: Brazil
Description: -
Title: Jeronimo Martins
Place: Portugal
Description: -
Title: JM Smucker
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Jollibee
Place: Philippines
Description: -
Title: Juan Garcia Lax
Place: Germany
Description: -
Title: K+S
Place: Germany
Description: -
Title: Kellogg's
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Kernel
Place: Ukraine
Description: -
Title: Kerry Group
Place: Ireland
Description: -
Title: Keurig Dr Pepper
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Kewpie Corporation
Place: Japan
Description: -
Title: Kikkoman Corporation
Place: Japan
Description: -
Title: Kirin
Place: Japan
Description: -
Title: Koch Foods
Place: United States
Description: -
Title: Kraft Heinz
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Kroger
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Kweichow Moutai
Place: China
Description: -
Title: KWS
Place: Germany
Description: -
Title: Kyokuyo
Place: Japan
Description: -
Title: Lactalis
Place: France
Description: -
Title: Lamb Weston
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Land O'Lakes
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: LDC Groupe
Place: France
Description: -
Title: Les Mousquetaires
Place: France
Description: -
Title: Groupe Limagrain
Place: France
Description: -
Title: Lindt & Sprüngli
Place: Switzerland
Description: -
Title: Lingyunhai Sugar Group
Place: China
Description: -
Title: LOTTE Corporation
Place: Republic of Korea
Description: -
Title: Louis Dreyfus Company
Place: Netherlands
Description: -
Title: M Dias Branco
Place: Brazil
Description: -
Title: Magnit
Place: Russian Federation
Description: -
Title: Marfrig
Place: Brazil
Description: -
Title: Mars
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Marubeni Corporation
Place: Japan
Description: -
Title: Maruha Nichiro
Place: Japan
Description: -
Title: McCain Foods
Place: Canada
Description: -
Title: McCormick
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: McDonald's
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Megmilk Snow Brand
Place: Japan
Description: -
Title: Meiji
Place: Japan
Description: -
Title: Mercadona
Place: Spain
Description: -
Title: METRO
Place: Germany
Description: -
Title: Mewah
Place: Singapore
Description: -
Title: MHP
Place: Ukraine
Description: -
Title: Migros
Place: Switzerland
Description: -
Title: Minerva
Place: Brazil
Description: -
Title: Mitr Phol Sugar Corp
Place: Thailand
Description: -
Title: Mitsubishi Corporation
Place: Japan
Description: -
Title: Elior Group
Place: France
Description: -
Title: E-Mart
Place: South Korea
Description: -
Title: EuroChem
Place: Switzerland
Description: -
Title: Evonik
Place: Germany
Description: -
Title: EW Group
Place: Germany
Description: -
Title: Ezaki Glico
Place: Japan
Description: -
Title: FCF Co., Ltd.
Place: Taiwan
Description: -
Title: Ferrero
Place: Luxembourg
Description: -
Title: FGV
Place: Malaysia
Description: -
Title: Firmenich
Place: Switzerland
Description: -
Title: Flour Mills of Nigeria
Place: Nigeria
Description: -
Title: FMC
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Fonterra
Place: New Zealand
Description: -
Title: ForFarmers
Place: Netherlands
Description: -
Title: FrieslandCampina
Place: Netherlands
Description: -
Title: Fufeng Group
Place: China
Description: -
Title: Fuji Oil
Place: Japan
Description: -
Title: Fujian Sunner Development Corporation
Place: China
Description: -
Title: General Mills
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Givaudan
Place: Switzerland
Description: -
Title: Golden Agri-Resources
Place: Singapore
Description: -
Title: Graincorp
Place: Australia
Description: -
Title: Greenyard
Place: Belgium
Description: -
Title: Groupe Bigard
Place: France
Description: -
Title: Gruma
Place: Mexico
Description: -
Title: Grupo Arcor
Place: Argentina
Description: -
Title: Grupo Bimbo
Place: Mexico
Description: -
Title: Grupo Lala
Place: Mexico
Description: -
Title: Grupo Nutresa
Place: Colombia
Description: -
Title: Gruppo Cremonini
Place: Italy
Description: -
Title: Gruppo Veronesi
Place: Italy
Description: -
Title: Guangdong Haid Group
Place: China
Description: -
Title: Harim
Place: Republic of Korea
Description: -
Title: Heineken
Place: Netherlands
Description: -
Title: Hormel Foods
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: ICA Gruppen
Place: Sweden
Description: -
Title: Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative
Place: India
Description: -
Title: Inghams
Place: Australia
Description: -
Title: Ingredion
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Intercorp
Place: Peru
Description: -
Title: International Flavors & Fragrances
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: ICL
Place: Israel
Description: -
Title: Itochu
Place: Japan
Description: -
Title: Itoham Yonekyu
Place: Japan
Description: -
Title: J.D. Heiskell & Company
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: J.R. Simplot
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: JDE Peet's
Place: Netherlands
Description: -
Title: Carrefour
Place: France
Description: -
Title: Cencosud
Place: Chile
Description: -
Title: Central Retail
Place: Thailand
Description: -
Title: CF Industries
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Charoen Pokphand Group
Place: Thailand
Description: -
Title: China Mengniu Dairy
Place: Hong Kong SAR, China
Description: -
Title: China Resources
Place: China
Description: -
Title: Chipotle Mexican Grill
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Cutrale
Place: Brazil
Description: -
Title: CHS
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Coamo Agroindustrial Cooperativa
Place: Brazil
Description: -
Title: The Coca-Cola Company
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: COFCO
Place: China
Description: -
Title: Coles Group
Place: Australia
Description: -
Title: Colruyt
Place: Belgium
Description: -
Title: Compass Group
Place: United Kingdom
Description: -
Title: Conad
Place: Italy
Description: -
Title: Conagra Brands
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Constellation Brands
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Cooke
Place: Canada
Description: -
Title: COOP Group
Place: Switzerland
Description: -
Title: Cooperatie Coforta
Place: Netherlands
Description: -
Title: Copersucar
Place: Brazil
Description: -
Title: Corteva Agriscience
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Costco Wholesale
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Cosun
Place: Netherlands
Description: -
Title: Dairy Farmers of America
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Dangote Industries
Place: Nigeria
Description: -
Title: Danish Agro
Place: Denmark
Description: -
Title: Danish Crown
Place: Denmark
Description: -
Title: Danone
Place: France
Description: -
Title: Darden Restaurants
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: De Heus
Place: Netherlands
Description: -
Title: Del Monte Pacific
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Diageo
Place: United Kingdom
Description: -
Title: DLG Group
Place: Denmark
Description: -
Title: DMK
Place: Germany
Description: -
Title: Dongwon Enterprise
Place: Republic of Korea
Description: -
Title: Driscoll's
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: DSM
Place: Netherlands
Description: -
Title: E.Leclerc
Place: France
Description: -
Title: Ebro Foods
Place: Spain
Description: -
Title: ECOM Agroindustrial
Place: Switzerland
Description: -
Title: ED&F Man
Place: United Kingdom
Description: -
Title: Edeka Zentrale
Place: Germany
Description: -
Title: Agrifirm
Place: Netherlands
Description: -
Title: Agropur
Place: Canada
Description: -
Title: Ahold Delhaize
Place: Netherlands
Description: -
Title: Ajinomoto Group
Place: Japan
Description: -
Title: Albertsons Companies
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: ALDI Nord
Place: Germany
Description: -
Title: ALDI SOUTH Group
Place: Germany
Description: -
Title: Alicorp
Place: Peru
Description: -
Title: Alimentation Couche-Tard
Place: Canada
Description: -
Title: Allana Group
Place: India
Description: -
Title: Amaggi Group
Place: Brazil
Description: -
Title: American Crystal
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Amul
Place: India
Description: -
Title: Anheuser-Busch InBev
Place: Belgium
Description: -
Title: Aramark
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Archer Daniels Midland
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Arla Foods
Place: Denmark
Description: -
Title: Asahi Group
Place: Japan
Description: -
Title: Associated British Foods
Place: United Kingdom
Description: -
Title: Auchan
Place: France
Description: -
Title: Aurora Alimentos
Place: Brazil
Description: -
Title: Austevoll Seafood
Place: Norway
Description: -
Title: Autogrill
Place: Italy
Description: -
Title: Avril Group
Place: France
Description: -
Title: B&G Foods
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Bachoco
Place: Mexico
Description: -
Title: Barilla
Place: Italy
Description: -
Title: Barry Callebaut
Place: Switzerland
Description: -
Title: BASF
Place: Germany
Description: -
Title: Bayer
Place: Germany
Description: -
Title: BayWa
Place: Germany
Description: -
Title: Beidahuang Group
Place: China
Description: -
Title: BetAgro
Place: Thailand
Description: -
Title: Bidcorp
Place: South Africa
Description: -
Title: Bloomin' Brands
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Blue Diamond Growers
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Bonduelle
Place: France
Description: -
Title: Boparan
Place: United Kingdom
Description: -
Title: BRF
Place: Brazil
Description: -
Title: Bright Food Group
Place: China
Description: -
Title: Bunge
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: C&S Wholesale Grocers
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Calavo Growers
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Campbell's
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Cargill
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Carlsberg
Place: Denmark
Description: -
Title: Carozzi
Place: Chile
Description: -
Title: AGD Group
Place: Argentina
Description: -
Title: Aeon
Place: Japan
Description: -
Title: AGP
Place: United States of America
Description:
Previous findings
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2021 Food and Agriculture Benchmark
The first iteration measured the world’s 350 most influential food and agriculture companies on key topics underpinning the food systems transformation agenda.
See 2021 findings
Spotlight benchmarks
Specific industries need deeper analysis beyond the scope of the Food and Agriculture Benchmark. These ‘spotlight benchmarks’ help WBA learn, remain credible, stay relevant and scale the lessons learnt.
