2021 Food and Agriculture Benchmark
September 2021
Our first ever Food and Agriculture Benchmark measures and ranks 350 of the world’s most influential food and agriculture companies on their contributions to transforming our global food system. The benchmark builds upon existing frameworks and targets to holistically assess companies from farm to fork on their environmental, nutritional and social impact.
The benchmark is launching alongside the 2021 United Nations Food Systems Summit, a critical moment for addressing the interconnectedness of food systems and global challenges such as hunger, climate change, poverty and inequality. Whilst pressure on the food sector is mounting, many major companies continue to operate business as usual and not contributing to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Five key findings
The benchmark demonstrates that the food and agriculture sector is not on track for transitioning to a sustainable food system. Our key findings reveal worrying gaps in the industry’s preparedness for climate change, progress on human rights and contribution to nutritious diets. The benchmarked companies account for more than half of the world’s food and agriculture revenue, and directly employ over 23 million people. If these companies do not take action now, the SDGs and the Paris Agreement will be further out of sight than ever before.
Key finding
Food companies need to step up for SDG decade of action
The companies that dominate our global food system are not putting people at the heart of their business or addressing their environmental impact. Providing sustainable livelihoods for farmers, decent employment for workers and nutritious choices for consumers – without depleting natural resources – is essential for the SDG agenda. Yet, the majority of companies perform very poorly.
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Key finding
Sustainability strategies are a crucial first step
Integrating sustainability into a business’s strategy is the first step, however companies must go beyond words and set actionable targets. While in total 73% of companies have a sustainable development strategy, only 26% are setting holistic time-bound targets. Concerningly, 27% of companies did not disclose any sustainability strategy.
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Key finding
The sector is not taking environmental responsibility
The world is becoming ever-more conscious of the climate-impact of our food system, yet our results find that only 26 companies have set greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets aligned with the Paris Agreement. Furthermore, 189 companies have not set targets to achieve deforestation and conversion-free supply chains for their high-risk commodities.
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Key finding
The food business is failing people
Companies are performing poorly on critical social issues. The vast majority lack comprehensive commitments and procedures prohibiting child and forced labour in their operations and supply chain. Less than 10% of companies demonstrate having a full human rights due diligence mechanism in place.
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Key finding
Industries are not prioritising nutritious food choices
The 350 companies assessed dominate international markets. They impact what ends up on the plate of the billions of consumers across the world. However, the majority of companies struggle to tackle nutritional and health challenges in their core business and strategy. 80% of companies in scope do not provide evidence of improving accessibility and affordability of nutritious foods.
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See how the companies performed
View rankingFurther reading
350 Food companies worldwide
Locations
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Title: Van Drie Group
Place: Netherlands
Description: -
Title: Vinamilk
Place: Vietnam
Description: -
Title: Vion
Place: Netherlands
Description: -
Title: Viterra
Place: Netherlands
Description: -
Title: Wadia Group (Bombay Burmah, Britannia Industries)
Place: India
Description: -
Title: Walmart
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Want Want China
Place: China
Description: -
Title: Wengfu Group
Place: China
Description: -
Title: Wen's Foodstuff
Place: China
Description: -
Title: WH Group
Place: Hong Kong, 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: Yanmar
Place: Japan
Description: -
Title: Yara
Place: Norway
Description: -
Title: Yildiz Holding (Godiva Chocolatier, Pladis, Ulker)
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 Holdings
Place: Japan
Description: -
Title: Zespri
Place: New Zealand
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: Sumitomo Chemical
Place: Japan
Description: -
Title: Sunkist Growers
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Suntory
Place: Japan
Description: -
Title: Symrise
Place: Germany
Description: -
Title: Syngenta Group
Place: Switzerland
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: 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 (Cayman Islands) Holding
Place: China
Description: -
Title: Toennies
Place: Germany
Description: -
Title: Tokyo Seika
Place: Japan
Description: -
Title: Tongaat Hulett
Place: South Africa
Description: -
Title: Tongwei
Place: China
Description: -
Title: Total Produce
Place: Ireland
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, China
Description: -
Title: Universal Robina
Place: Philippines
Description: -
Title: UPL
Place: India
Description: -
Title: US Foods Holding
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Pick N Pay Stores
Place: South Africa
Description: -
Title: Post Holdings
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: Reliance Retail
Place: India
Description: -
Title: Restaurant Brands International
Place: Canada
Description: -
Title: Rewe Group
Place: Germany
Description: -
Title: Reyes Holdings
Place: United States of America
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: Schreiber
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Schwarz Gruppe (Kaufland, Lidl)
Place: Germany
Description: -
Title: SDF Group
Place: Italy
Description: -
Title: Seven & I Holdings
Place: Japan
Description: -
Title: Shandong Bohi
Place: China
Description: -
Title: Shoprite Holdings
Place: South Africa
Description: -
Title: Sigma Alimentos
Place: Mexico
Description: -
Title: Sime Darby Plantation
Place: Malaysia
Description: -
Title: Sinomach (YTO Group)
Place: China
Description: -
Title: Sobeys
Place: Canada
Description: -
Title: Sociedad Quimica y Minera (SQM)
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: 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 (Coromandel, EID Parry, Parry Agro)
Place: India
Description: -
Title: Musim Mas
Place: Singapore
Description: -
Title: Muyuan Foods
Place: China
Description: -
Title: National Agricultural Cooperative Federation (NongHyup Agribusiness Group)
Place: Republic of Korea
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: Nippon Suisan Kaisha (Nissui)
Place: Japan
Description: -
Title: Nisshin Seifun Group
Place: Japan
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: Nutreco
Place: Netherlands
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 Holdings
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 Holdings
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: Italy
Description: -
Title: Pernod Ricard
Place: France
Description: -
Title: PhosAgro
Place: Russian Federation
Description: -
Title: PHW Group
Place: Germany
Description: -
Title: Kubota
Place: Japan
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 (Intermarche)
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: Lovol
Place: China
Description: -
Title: M Dias Branco
Place: Brazil
Description: -
Title: Magnit
Place: Russian Federation
Description: -
Title: Mahindra and Mahindra
Place: India
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 AG
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: Mitsui
Place: Japan
Description: -
Title: Molinos
Place: Argentina
Description: -
Title: Molson Coors
Place: United States of America
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 Holdings
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: ICL
Place: Israel
Description: -
Title: Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO)
Place: India
Description: -
Title: Indofood
Place: Indonesia
Description: -
Title: Inghams
Place: Australia
Description: -
Title: Ingredion
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Intercorp (InRetail)
Place: Peru
Description: -
Title: International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF)
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Iseki
Place: Japan
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: Jacobs Douwe Egberts
Place: Netherlands
Description: -
Title: JBS
Place: Brazil
Description: -
Title: JCB
Place: United Kingdom
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 Holding
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 Holdings
Place: Japan
Description: -
Title: Koch Foods
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Kraft Heinz
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Kroger
Place: United States of America
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: Elior Group
Place: France
Description: -
Title: E-Mart
Place: Republic of 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, China
Description: -
Title: Ferrero
Place: Luxembourg
Description: -
Title: FGV Holdings
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: Fomento Económico Mexicano (FEMSA)
Place: Mexico
Description: -
Title: Fonterra
Place: New Zealand
Description: -
Title: Food Corporation of India (FCI)
Place: India
Description: -
Title: ForFarmers
Place: Netherlands
Description: -
Title: FrieslandCampina
Place: Netherlands
Description: -
Title: Fufeng Group
Place: China
Description: -
Title: Fuji Oil Holdings
Place: Japan
Description: -
Title: Fujian Sunner Development Corporation
Place: China
Description: -
Title: General Mills
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: George Weston (Weston Foods & Loblaw)
Place: Canada
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: Groupe Casino
Place: France
Description: -
Title: Groupe Limagrain
Place: France
Description: -
Title: Groupe Pomona
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: Citrosuco
Place: Brazil
Description: -
Title: Claas
Place: Germany
Description: -
Title: CNH Industrial
Place: Netherlands
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: United States of America
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: Cosan
Place: Brazil
Description: -
Title: Costco Wholesale
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Cosun
Place: Netherlands
Description: -
Title: Cutrale (Chiquita)
Place: Brazil
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: Deere & Co
Place: United States of America
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 (Deutsches Milchkontor)
Place: Germany
Description: -
Title: Dole Food
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Dongwon Enterprise
Place: Republic of Korea
Description: -
Title: Driscoll's
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: DSM
Place: Netherlands
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: Bajaj Hindusthan Sugar
Place: India
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: BioMar
Place: Denmark
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 Holdings (2 Sisters Food Group)
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: 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: China
Description: -
Title: China Resources Holdings
Place: China
Description: -
Title: Chipotle Mexican Grill
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: CHS
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: Aeon
Place: Japan
Description: -
Title: AGCO
Place: United States of America
Description: -
Title: AGD Group
Place: Argentina
Description: -
Title: AGP
Place: United States of America
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: Arca Continental
Place: Mexico
Description: -
Title: Archer Daniels Midland (ADM)
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: Astra Agro Lestari
Place: Indonesia
Description: -
Title: Auchan
Place: France
Description:
Further reading
-
Food and Agriculture Benchmark Baseline Assessment 2020
This assessment evaluates the commitments of the world’s 350 most influential food and agriculture companies on key topics underpinning the food systems transformation agenda.
See 2020 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.
