Barbara Strozzilaan 336
1083 HN Amsterdam
The Netherlands
gssbsecretariat@globalreporting.org

Item 02 – GRI Sector Standards
Project for Agriculture, Aquaculture,and Fishing – Final draft
For GSSB approval
Date

2 May 2022

Meeting

19 May 2022

Project

Sector Standards Project for Agriculture, Aquaculture, and Fishing

Description

This document presents the final draft of GRI 13: Agriculture, Aquaculture, andFishing Sectors 2022, for GSSB approval.
A summary of the changes in the Standard compared to the exposure draft ispresented in the explanatory note at the beginning of the document. This
document reflects the final outcome and consensus of the Working Groupdeliberations.
The final draft Standard is complemented by the draft GSSB Basis forConclusions (Item 03) which summarizes the significant issues raised during the
public comment period and the GSSB responses to these, as well as a reportsummarizing the input relevant to GRI Topic Standards collected during thedevelopment of GRI 13: Agriculture, Aquaculture, and Fishing Sectors 2022 (Item04). Item 03 and item 04 are provided for your information and input but do not
require approval.
Effective dateAs part of this approval, the GSSB is also asked to consider the proposed
effective date of 1 January 2024 (see line 106). This effective date allows for atransition period of a full year regardless of when an organization’s reporting cycle
commences, ensuring sufficient time for organizations to incorporate GRI 13 into
their materiality considerations and start collecting data for any topics and/or
disclosures they may not be reporting on yet.

© GRI 2022

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Summary of key changes comparedto the exposure draft

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This section summarizes the key changes in GRI 13: Agriculture, Aquaculture, and Fishing Sectors
2022, compared to the exposure draft. These changes were performed based on the advice of theWorking Group in response to significant issues raised during the public comment period or by
Working Group members themselves. Additional changes have been undertaken as a result ofalignment with the revisions to the Universal Standards 2021 and preceding Sector Standards.

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Sector activities and business relationships

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Topic 13.1 Emissions

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Topic 13.3 Biodiversity

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Topic 13.5 Soil health

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Topic 13.6 Pesticide use

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Animal and fish feed suppliers, suppliers of agricultural inputs were added to the business
relationships.

The description of impacts related to the CO2 emissions released into the ocean as a result of
bottom trawling was removed.

An additional sector recommendation to report on fish escapes from aquaculture operations wasadded.
An additional sector disclosure to report on the impacts of use of juvenile seeds stocks inaquaculture operations was added.
An additional sector disclosure to report on fishing products used in fish feed in aquaculture wasadded.
Reporting on sustainability stock status was added to the additional sector disclosures fororganizations in the fishing sector on aquatic organisms caught, and to the additional sector
disclosures for the aquaculture sector on juvenile seed stocks and the use of fishing products inaquaculture feed.

The additional sector recommendation on a soil management plan was revised to set out theminimum elements of the plan that should be described, including identified threats to soil healthand the approach to crop inputs optimization.
The reference to fertilizers in the additional sector recommendation was expanded to recommend
reporting on the approach to the optimization of all crop inputs and not only fertilizers.

The topic description now focuses on the impacts of pesticides use in the agriculture sector. A
description of impacts related to the use of chemical substances in aquaculture is covered in topic
13.11 Animal health and welfare.
Positive impacts of pesticides on production yields are now recognized more prominently. This
includes a decrease of diseases and pests, increase of production yields, and potentially limiting
the need to convert more land.
The additional sector disclosure on volume and intensity of pesticides used was modified todisaggregate the information by hazard levels.
Two additional sector recommendations were added to respond to the expectations set out by
relevant guidance from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World HealthOrganization (WHO) to progressively reduce of the use of extremely and highly hazardous
pesticides when possible.

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Topic 13.8 Waste and food loss

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Topic 13.9 Food security

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Topic 13.11 Animal health and welfare

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Topic 13.15 Non-discrimination and equal opportunity

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Topic 13.19 Occupational health and safety

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Topic 13.20 Employment practices

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Topic 13.21 Living income and living wage

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The topic name was updated to topic 13.8 Waste. Food loss impacts and the additional sector
disclosure on food loss were moved to topic 13.9 Food security.

The additional sector disclosure on food loss, previously found in the reporting sub-section of
topic 13.8 Waste and food loss (now topic 13.8 Waste), was moved to this topic.
This additional sector disclosure now requests information to be disaggregated by ‘main products
or product category’ instead of ‘by product’.

The additional sector disclosure on the total volume of anesthetic, antibiotic, anti-inflammatory,
hormone, and growth-promotion treatments administered to animals was removed and replacedby an additional sector recommendation on the organization’s commitments to responsible andprudent use of antimicrobial agents.
An additional sector disclosure for the aquaculture sector on the survival of farmed aquatic
animals was added.

An additional sector disclosure on the equal treatment of migrant workers was added. This
disclosure also includes the approach to compensation based on nationality.

An additional sector recommendation on the maximum working hours and minimum hours of rest
for workers aboard fishing vessels was added, recognizing excessive working hours as one of
the key risk factors for worker safety and health in the fishing sector.
An additional sector disclosure on occupational health services’ functions that specificallyaddress the occupational health and safety risks for workers aboard fishing vessels was added.

The additional sector recommendation on ethical recruitment was expanded to include theelements outlined in the International Labour Organization (ILO) and International Organization
on Migration (IOM) instruments in regard to ethical recruitment of migrant workers.
The additional sector recommendation on compensation was moved from topic 13.21 Living
income and living wage to this topic.

The topic name was updated to topic 13.21 Living income and living wage.
The topic statement and the description of impacts were updated to reflect the delineation
between living wage and living income.

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GRI 13: Agriculture, Aquaculture, and76

Fishing Sectors 2022

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SECTOR STANDARD

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Effective dateThis Standard is effective for reports or other materials published on or after 1 January 2024. Earlier
adoption is encouraged.

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Responsibility
This Standard is issued by the Global Sustainability Standards Board (GSSB). Any feedback on the
GRI Standards can be submitted to gssbsecretariat@globalreporting.org for the consideration of the
GSSB.

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Due processThis Standard was developed in the public interest and in accordance with the requirements of the
GSSB Due Process Protocol. It has been developed using multi-stakeholder expertise, and withregard to authoritative intergovernmental instruments and widely held expectations of organizations
relating to social, environmental, and economic responsibilities.

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Legal liability
This document, designed to promote sustainability reporting, has been developed by the Global
Sustainability Standards Board (GSSB) through a unique multi-stakeholder consultative process
involving representatives from organizations and report information users from around the world.
While the GRI Board of Directors and GSSB encourage use of the GRI Sustainability ReportingStandards (GRI Standards) and related Interpretations by all organizations, the preparation andpublication of reports based fully or partially on the GRI Standards and related Interpretations are thefull responsibility of those producing them. Neither the GRI Board of Directors, GSSB nor Stichting
Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) can assume responsibility for any consequences or damages
resulting directly or indirectly from the use of the GRI Standards and related Interpretations in the
preparation of reports, or the use of reports based on the GRI Standards and related Interpretations.

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Copyright and trademark noticeThis document is copyright-protected by Stichting Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). The reproduction
and distribution of this document for information and/or use in preparing a sustainability report ispermitted without prior permission from GRI. However, neither this document nor any extract from it
may be reproduced, stored, translated, or transferred in any form or by any means (electronic,
mechanical, photocopied, recorded, or otherwise) for any other purpose without prior written
permission from GRI.

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Global Reporting Initiative, GRI and logo, GSSB and logo, and GRI Sustainability ReportingStandards (GRI Standards) and logo are trademarks of Stichting Global Reporting Initiative.

110© [2022] GRI. All rights reserved.

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ISBN [978-90-8866-NNN-N]© GRI 2022

Contents
Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 3
Sectors this Standard applies to ............................................................................................................. 3
System of GRI Standards ....................................................................................................................... 5
Using this Standard ................................................................................................................................. 6
1.

Sector profile .................................................................................................................................. 9

Sector activities and business relationships ........................................................................................... 9
The sectors and sustainable development ........................................................................................... 12
2.

Likely material topics .................................................................................................................. 17
Topic 13.1 Emissions ..................................................................................................................... 17
Topic 13.2 Climate adaptation and resilience ................................................................................ 20
Topic 13.3 Biodiversity .................................................................................................................. 22
Topic 13.4 Natural ecosystem conversion ..................................................................................... 25
Topic 13.5 Soil health .................................................................................................................... 28
Topic 13.6 Pesticides use .............................................................................................................. 30
Topic 13.7 Water and effluents ...................................................................................................... 32
Topic 13.8 Waste ........................................................................................................................... 34
Topic 13.9 Food security ............................................................................................................... 36
Topic 13.10 Food safety ................................................................................................................ 38
Topic 13.11 Animal health and welfare.......................................................................................... 40
Topic 13.12 Local communities ..................................................................................................... 42
Topic 13.13 Land and resource rights ........................................................................................... 44
Topic 13.14 Rights of indigenous peoples ..................................................................................... 46
Topic 13.15 Non-discrimination and equal opportunity ................................................................. 48
Topic 13.16 Forced or compulsory labor ...................................................................................... 50
Topic 13.17 Child labor .................................................................................................................. 52
Topic 13.18 Freedom of association and collective bargaining ..................................................... 54
Topic 13.19 Occupational health and safety ................................................................................. 56
Topic 13.20 Employment practices ................................................................................................ 59
Topic 13.21 Living income and living wage ................................................................................... 62
Topic 13.22 Economic inclusion .................................................................................................... 64
Topic 13.23 Supply chain traceability ............................................................................................ 66
Topic 13.24 Public policy ............................................................................................................... 69
Topic 13.25 Anti-competitive behavior ........................................................................................... 70
Topic 13.26 Anti-corruption ............................................................................................................ 71

Glossary ............................................................................................................................................... 73
Bibliography ........................................................................................................................................ 75

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Introduction

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GRI 13: Agriculture, Aquaculture, and Fishing Sectors 2022 provides information for organizations in
the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors about their likely material topics. These topics arelikely to be material for organizations in the sectors on the basis of the sectors’ most significant
impacts on the economy, environment, and people, including on their human rights.

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GRI 13 also contains a list of disclosures for organizations in the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishingsectors to report in relation to each likely material topic. This includes disclosures from the GRI Topic
Standards and other sources.

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This Standard is structured as follows:

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Section 1 provides a high-level overview of the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors,
including their activities, business relationships, context, and the connections between the United
Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the likely material topics for the sectors.

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Section 2 outlines the topics that are likely to be material for organizations in the agriculture,
aquaculture, and fishing sectors and, therefore potentially merit reporting. For each likely material
topic, the sectors’ most significant impacts are described and disclosures to report information
about the organization’s impacts in relation to the topic are listed.

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The Glossary contains defined terms with specific meaning when used in the GRI Standards. The
terms are underlined in the text and linked to the definitions.

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The Bibliography lists the authoritative intergovernmental instruments and additional referencesused in developing this Standard, listed by topic. It also lists further resources the organization
can consult.

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The rest of the Introduction section provides an overview of the sectors this Standard applies to, an
overview of the system of GRI Standards, and further information on using this Standard.

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Sectors this Standard applies to137

GRI 13 applies to organizations undertaking any of the following:138•

Crop production

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Animal production

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Aquaculture

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Fishing

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This Standard can be used by any organization in the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors,
regardless of size, type, geographic location, or reporting experience.

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The organization must use all applicable Sector Standards for the sectors in which it has substantial
activities.

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Sector classifications

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Table1 lists industry groupings relevant to the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors in the
Global Industry Classification System (GICS®) [4], Industry Classification Benchmark (ICB) [3],International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC) [6], and Sustainable

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Industry Classification System (SICS®) [5].1 The table is intended to assist an organization in
identifying whether GRI 13 applies to it and is for reference only.

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Table 1. Industry groupings relevant to the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors inother classification systems
Classification name

GICS®

Classification
number
30202010

ICB

45102010

Farming, Fishing and Plantations

ISIC

A1

Crop and animal production (excluding hunting)

A3

Fishing and aquaculture

FB-AG

Agricultural Products

FB-MP

Meat, Poultry and Dairy

Classification system

SICS®

Agricultural Products

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1 The relevant industry groupings in the Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European

Community (NACE) [1] and the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) [2] can also beestablished through available concordances with the International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC).

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System of GRI Standards

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This Standard is part of the GRI Sustainability Reporting Standards (GRI Standards). The GRI
Standards enable an organization to report information about its most significant impacts on theeconomy, environment, and people, including impacts on their human rights, and how it manages
these impacts.

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The GRI Standards are structured as a system of interrelated standards that are organized into threeseries: GRI Universal Standards, GRI Sector Standards, and GRI Topic Standards (see Figure 1 inthis Standard).

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Universal Standards: GRI 1, GRI 2 and GRI 3

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GRI 1: Foundation 2021 specifies the requirements that the organization must comply with to report inaccordance with the GRI Standards. The organization begins using the GRI Standards by consulting
GRI 1.

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GRI 2: General Disclosures 2021 contains disclosures that the organization uses to provide
information about its reporting practices and other organizational details, such as its activities,
governance, and policies.

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GRI 3: Material Topics 2021 provides guidance on how to determine material topics. It also contains
disclosures that the organization uses to report information about its process of determining material
topics, its list of material topics, and how it manages each topic.

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Sector Standards

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The Sector Standards provide information for organizations about their likely material topics. The
organization uses the Sector Standards that apply to its sectors when determining its material topics
and when determining what to report for each material topic.

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Topic Standards

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The Topic Standards contain disclosures that the organization uses to report information about its
impacts in relation to particular topics. The organization uses the Topic Standards according to the listof material topics it has determined using GRI 3.

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Figure 1. GRI Standards: Universal, Sector, and Topic Standards

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Using this Standard

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An organization in the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors reporting in accordance with the
GRI Standards is required to use this Standard when determining its material topics and when
determining what information to report for the material topics.

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Determining material topics

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Material topics represent an organization's most significant impacts on the economy, environment,
and people, including their human rights.

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Section 1 of this Standard provides contextual information that can help the organization in identifying
and assessing its impacts.

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Section 2 outlines the topics that are likely to be material for organizations in the agriculture,
aquaculture, and fishing sectors. The organization is required to review each topic described anddetermine whether it is a material topic for it.

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The organization needs to use this Standard when determining its material topics. However,circumstances for each organization vary, and the organization needs to determine its material topics
according to its specific circumstances, such as its business model; geographic, cultural, and legal
operating context; ownership structure; and the nature of its impacts. Because of this, not all topics
listed in this Standard may be material for all organizations in the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishingsectors. See GRI 3: Material Topics 2021 for step-by-step guidance on how to determine material
topics.

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If the organization has determined any of the topics included in this Standard as not material, then theorganization is required to list them in the GRI content index and explain why they are not material.

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See Requirement 3 in GRI 1 Foundation 2021 and Box 5 in GRI 3 for more information on using
Sector Standards to determine material topics.

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Determining what to report

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For each material topic, an organization reports information about its impacts and how it manages
these impacts.

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Once an organization has determined a topic included in this Standard to be material, the Standard
also helps the organization identify disclosures to report information about its impacts relating to that
topic.

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For each topic in section 2 of this Standard, a reporting sub-section is included. These sub-sections
list disclosures from the GRI Topic Standards that are relevant to the topic. They may also list
additional sector disclosures and recommendations for the organization to report. This is done incases where the Topic Standards do not provide disclosures, or where the disclosures from the Topic
Standards do not provide sufficient information about the organization’s impacts in relation to a topic.
These additional sector disclosures and recommendations may be based on other sources. Figure 2
illustrates how the reporting included in each topic is structured.

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The organization is required to report the disclosures from the Topic Standards listed for those topics
it has determined to be material. If any of the Topic Standards disclosures listed are not relevant to
the organization’s impacts, the organization is not required to report them. However, the organizationis required to list these disclosures in the GRI content index and provide ‘not applicable’ as the reason
for omission for not reporting the disclosures. See Requirement 6 in GRI 1: Foundation 2021 for more
information on reasons for omission.

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The additional sector disclosures and recommendations outline further information which has been
identified as relevant for organizations in the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors to report in
relation to a topic. The organization should provide sufficient information about its impacts in relation
to each material topic, so that information users can make informed assessments and decisions about
the organization. For this reason, reporting these additional sector disclosures and recommendations
is encouraged, however it is not a requirement.

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When the organization reports additional sector disclosures, it is required to list them in the GRI
content index (see Requirement 7 in GRI 1).

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If the organization reports information that applies to more than one material topic, it does not need torepeat it for each topic. The organization can report this information once, with a clear explanation of
all the topics it covers.

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If the organization intends to publish a standalone sustainability report, it does not need to repeat
information that it has already reported publicly elsewhere, such as on web pages or in its annual
report. In such a case, the organization can report on a required disclosure by providing a reference in
the GRI content index as to where this information can be found (e.g., by providing a link to the web
page or citing the page in the annual report where the information has been published).

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See Requirement 5 in GRI 1 for more information on using Sector Standards to report disclosures.

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GRI Sector Standard reference numbers

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GRI Sector Standard reference numbers are included for all disclosures listed in this Standard, boththose from GRI Standards and additional sector disclosures. When listing the disclosures from thisStandard in the GRI content index, the organization is required to include the associated GRI Sector
Standard reference numbers (see Requirement 7 in GRI 1: Foundation 2021). This identifier helps
information users assess which of the disclosures listed in the applicable Sector Standards areincluded in the organization’s reporting.

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Defined terms

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Defined terms are underlined in the text of the GRI Standards and linked to their definitions in the
Glossary. The organization is required to apply the definitions in the Glossary.

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References and resources

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The authoritative intergovernmental instruments and additional references used in developing thisStandard, as well as further resources that may help report on likely material topics and can be
consulted by the organization are listed in the Bibliography. These complement the references andresources listed in GRI 3: Material Topics 2021 and in the GRI Topic Standards.

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Figure 2. Structure of reporting included in each topic

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1. Sector profile

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The agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors produce essential food and non-food, such as fibers,
fuels and rubber, products. They play a major role in global development as a provider of food forhuman consumption and supplier of materials to other economic sectors, such as textiles,
construction materials, pharmaceuticals, and the production of biofuels.

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Production levels and value created by the sectors have increased in almost all countries across theglobe in the past 20 years. However, their contribution to global gross domestic product (GDP) acrossthis time period has stayed consistent at about 4% 2. Despite this relatively limited global economic
contribution, the sector has an outsized impact in developing countries and on those in rural areas. In
some developing countries, accounting for more than a quarter of GDP [20].

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Demand for the products of the sectors is projected to grow into the future, driven by a growing
population and changes in income levels. Future production will also be influenced by demographic,socio-cultural, and lifestyle changes, as well as consumer awareness of health and sustainability
issues [30].

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Agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing operations can be formally or informally organized as large-scaleor small-scale business enterprises. Operations can also include households, cooperatives, andgovernment institutions. These organizations can own or operate farms, fishing vessels, mills, andhatcheries. Vertically integrated organizations can directly own or manage production, storage,
processing, and distribution.

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Sector activities and business relationships

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Through their activities and business relationships, organizations can have an effect on the economy,
environment, and people, and in turn make negative or positive contributions to sustainable
development. When determining its material topics, the organization should consider the impacts ofboth its activities and its business relationships.

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Activities

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The impacts of an organization vary according to the types of activities it undertakes. The following list
outlines some of the key activities of the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors, as defined inthis Standard. This list is not exhaustive.

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Crop production

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Production: growing and harvesting seeds, trees for rubber and latex, and all crops, such as cereals,
vegetables, fruits, fibers, and other types; gathering berries, nuts, mushrooms, and sap.

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Primary processing: cleaning, grading, hulling, pounding, and milling grains; soaking, heating, anddrying leaves; extracting and filtering oils.

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Aggregation: aggregating crop produce from multiple sources at farm level for sale to downstream
markets, which can involve transaction by intermediary organizations or single actors.

2 This figure is based on the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector as defined in the International Standard

Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC) which includes crop and animal production, hunting andrelated service activities, forestry and logging, and fishing and aquaculture [20].

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Storage: keeping crops in a way that preserves their quality and keeps them safe from, for example,
molds, yeasts, and rodents.

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Transportation: using traditional or mechanized transportation to move crops.

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Trading: buying and selling crops.

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Animal production

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Production: breeding and rearing livestock and poultry; collecting live animal products, such as meat,
milk, eggs, honey, and wool; farming insects; raising animals in captivity; feeding animals; operating
animal farms.

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Primary processing: cleaning and washing animal products; processing milk; candling eggs;
slaughtering animals for meat; deboning, cutting, smoking, and freezing meat; separating fur, skins,feathers, and down.

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Aggregation: aggregating animal products from multiple farms for sale to downstream markets,
which can involve transaction by intermediary organizations or single actors.

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Storage: keeping animal products in a way that preserves their quality and keeps them safe from, forexample, harmful bacteria.

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Transportation: using traditional or mechanized transportation to move live animals and animal
products.

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Trading: buying and selling live animals and animal products.

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Aquaculture

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Production: growing of algae and other seaweeds; culturing or farming of aquatic organisms, suchas fish, mollusks, and crustaceans, in captive conditions that involve regular stocking, feeding, andprotecting against predators; this includes both capture-based aquaculture (CBA) and hatchery-based
aquaculture (HBA) systems.

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Primary processing: slaughtering and deshelling produced aquatic organisms; undertaking service
activities incidental to the operation of fish hatcheries and fish farms.

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Aggregation: aggregating fish, mollusks, and crustaceans from multiple sources for sale todownstream markets, which can involve transaction by intermediary organizations or single actors.

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Storage: keeping aquaculture products in a way that preserves their quality and keeps them safe
from, for example, harmful bacteria.

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Transportation: using traditional or mechanized transportation to move aquaculture products.

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Trading: buying and selling aquaculture products.

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Fishing: capturing wild aquatic organisms, such as fish, mollusks, and crustaceans, via shore-based
netting or commercial fishing vessels in inshore, coastal, or offshore waters.

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Primary processing: onboard handling of live wild aquatic organisms after capture and through tothe point of landing.

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Aggregation: aggregating fish, mollusks, and crustaceans from multiple sources to downstream
markets, which can involve transaction by intermediary organizations or single actors.

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Storage: keeping fishing products3 in a way that preserves their quality and keeps them safe from, forexample, harmful bacteria.

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Transportation: using traditional or mechanized transportation to move fishing products.

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Trading: buying and selling fishing products.

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Business relationships

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An organization’s business relationships include relationships that it has with business partners, withentities in its value chain, including those beyond the first tier, and with any other entities directly
linked to its operations, products, or services. The following types of business relationships areprevalent in the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors and are relevant when identifying theimpacts of organizations in the sectors.

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Aggregators: intermediary organizations or single actors who bring products from multiple sources atfarm, fishery, hatchery, or mill level for sale to downstream markets.

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Animal or fish feed suppliers: organizations or persons that provide feed for animal production or
aquaculture.

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Primary producers: agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing organizations can often buy their products
from primary producers who actively farm or fish. Primary producers can be other organizations or
persons, such as farmers and fishers, categorized as self-employed workers.

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Suppliers of agricultural inputs: organizations that produce and sell fertilizers, pesticides and other
inputs, and seeds.

3 Fishing products refer to wild aquatic organisms captured, such as fish, mollusks, and crustaceans.

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The sectors and sustainable development

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Agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing are fundamental to feeding the world’s population. The sectors
have a key role in meeting the growing demand for nutritious, affordable, and safe food for an
estimated 10 billion people by 2050 [30]. At the same time, these sectors’ activities are increasingly
recognized as having significant impacts on sustainable development. Intensive use of natural
resources, the location of operations in rural areas, and large amounts of labor involved into
production globally are factors contributing to the scale of the sectors’ impacts.

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The agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors are the second largest source of employment
worldwide4 [20]. Over 2.5 billion people living in rural areas depend on them these sectors for jobs. At
the same time, agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing are sectors with the highest informality rates in
employment contracts, commercial transactions, and land tenure, posing challenges to upholding
human rights. With 80% of the world’s poor living in rural areas, ensuring sufficient income for rural
workers remains an issue [37]. Improving incomes means communities need better economic
opportunities, access to technology, skills training, and a more equitable distribution of value createdby their labor. Growth in the sectors is proportionately more effective in raising the incomes of theworld’s poorest people in comparison to other sectors [12].

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Agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing have a substantial environmental footprint. For example,
agriculture accounts for an estimated 70% of freshwater withdrawals globally and is a substantial
source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, accounting for 22% of the total global emissions 5 [25].
Similarly, fishing is responsible for at least 1.2% of global oil consumption [10].

370
371
372
373
374
375

Because agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing production rely on biodiversity, soils, and ecosystems,
implementing sustainable practices across the sectors is a fundamental condition for food security.
However, the agriculture sector is associated with 70% of losses in terrestrial biodiversity because ofland conversion, deforestation, soil erosion, and impacts of pesticides [21]. Fishing has resulted insignificant impacts on global ocean biodiversity, with one-third of fish stocks being overfished andabout 60% fished at their maximum sustainable levels [24].

376
377
378
379
380
381

There has been ongoing growth in the global consumption of animal and aquaculture products. With
approximately 340 million tons of meat, 88 million tons of dairy and 85 million tons of aquaculture
products being produced annually, animal health and welfare are fundamental to agriculture andaquaculture activities [20]. The conditions animals live in have considerable implications forpreventing zoonotic disease and the risks of antimicrobial resistance. Sound animal health andwelfare also mean the responsibility for treating animals humanely.

382
383
384
385
386
387

Climate change poses challenges for the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors. It can affectyields, disrupt production and supply chains, jeopardizing food security. Impacts of climate change
can also deepen poverty levels, displace people from their lands, and thus increase migration.
Agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing organizations can contribute to food security and global
development by building resilience to climate change, reducing food loss, and providing income andlivelihoods to farmers and fishers and their communities.

4 This figure is based on the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector as defined in the International Standard

Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC) which includes crop and animal production, hunting andrelated service activities, forestry and logging, fishing, and aquaculture [19].
5 This figure is based on the Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU) sector as defined in theInternational Panel for Climate Change reports (IPCC). Land use change is the largest source of AFOLU
emissions, followed by ruminant livestock production, followed by crop production [25].

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388

Sustainable Development Goals

389
390
391

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
adopted by the 193 United Nations member states, comprise the world’s comprehensive plan ofaction for achieving sustainable development [7].

392
393
394
395

Since the SDGs and the targets associated with them are integrated and indivisible, agriculture,
aquaculture, and fishing organizations have the potential to contribute to all SDGs by enhancing theirpositive impacts or by preventing and mitigating their negative impacts on the economy, environment,
and people.

396
397
398
399

The agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors provide food for communities across the world andare best positioned to contribute to Goal 2: Zero Hunger. The sectors are also the world’s biggest
employers and the largest economic sectors for many countries, directly impacting Goal 1: No Poverty
and Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth.

400
401
402
403
404
405

By managing natural resources sustainably and efficiently (Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and
Production), agriculture has the potential to revitalize rural landscapes, contributing to Goal 15: Life on
land. At the same time, the aquaculture and fishing sectors can contribute to healthy marine andaquatic ecosystems, which is Goal 14: Life Below Water. By implementing resilient fishing andfarming practices, the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors can help increase productivity andbuild the adaptive capacity to respond to climate change (Goal 13: Climate Action).

406
407
408

Table 2 presents connections between the likely material topics for the agriculture, aquaculture, andfishing sectors and the SDGs. These links were identified based on an assessment of the impacts
described in each likely material topic, and the targets associated with each SDG.

409
410
411
412

Table 2 is not a reporting tool but presents connections between the agriculture, aquaculture, andfishing sectors’ significant impacts and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the goallevel. See references [40] and [41] in the Bibliography for information on reporting progress towards
the SDGs using the GRI Standards.

413
414

Table 2: Linkages between the likely material topics for the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors
and the SDGs.

Likely material topics

Corresponding SDGs
Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being
Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

Topic 13.1 Emissions

Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
Goal 13: Climate Action
Goal 14: Life Below Water
Goal 15: Life on Land
Goal 1: No poverty

Topic 13.2 Climate adaptation
and resilience

Goal 2: Zero Hunger
Goal 13: Climate Action
Goal 2: Zero Hunger
Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

Topic 13.3 Biodiversity

Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
Goal 14: Life Below Water
Goal 15: Life on Land
Goal 13: Climate Action

Page 13 of 92

Topic 13.4 Natural ecosystem
conversion
Topic 13.5 Soil health

Goal 15: Life on Land
Goal 14: Life Below Water
Goal 2: Zero Hunger
Goal 15: Life on Land
Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being
Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

Topic 13.6 Pesticides use

Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
Goal 15: Life on Land
Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

Topic 13.7 Water and effluents

Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
Goal 14: Life Below Water

Topic 13.8 Waste
Topic 13.9 Food security

Topic 13.10 Food safety
Topic 13.11 Animal health andwelfareGoal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
Goal 2: Zero Hunger
Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Goal 2: Zero Hunger
Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being
Goal 15: Life on Land
Goal 1: No poverty
Goal 2: Zero Hunger
Goal 3: Good Health and Wellbeing

Topic 13.12 Local
communities

Goal 5: Gender Equality
Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
Goal 13: Climate Action
Goal 16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions
Goal 1: No Poverty
Goal 2: Zero Hunger

Topic 13.13 Land andresource rights

Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities
Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
Goal 15: Life on Land
Goal 16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions
Goal 1: No Poverty
Goal 2: Zero Hunger

Topic 13.14 Rights ofindigenous peoples

Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
Goal 13: Climate Action
Goal 15: Life on Land

Page 14 of 92

Goal 16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions
Goal 5: Gender Equality
Topic 13.15 Nondiscrimination and equal
opportunity

Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities
Goal 16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions
Goal 5: Gender Equality

Topic 13.16 Forced orcompulsory labor

Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
Goal 16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions
Goal 1: No Poverty

Topic 13.17 Child labor

Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Topic 13.18 Freedom of
association and collective
bargaining

Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

Topic 13.19 Occupational
health and safety

Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being

Goal 16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions

Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
Goal 1: No Poverty

Topic 13.20 Employment
practices

Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities
Goal 1: No Poverty

Topic 13.21 Living income

Goal 2: Zero Hunger
Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities
Goal 1: No Poverty
Goal 2: Zero Hunger
Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

Topic 13.22 Economic
inclusion

Goal 5: Gender Equality
Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Goal 10: Reduce Inequalities
Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
Goal 14: Life Below Water
Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

Topic 13.23 Supply chain
traceability

Goal 14: Life Below Water
Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Goal 2: Zero Hunger

Topic 13.24 Public policy

Goal 14: Life Below Water
Goal 15: Life on Land

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Goal 16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions
Topic 13.25 Anti-competitive
behavior

Goal 16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions

Topic 13.26 Anti-corruption

Goal 16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions

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415

2. Likely material topics

416
417
418
419
420
421

This section comprises the likely material topics for the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors.
Each topic describes the sectors’ most significant impacts related to the topic and lists disclosuresthat have been identified as relevant for reporting on the topic by agriculture, aquaculture, and fishingorganizations. The organization is required to review each topic in this section and determine whether
it is a material topic for the organization, and then to determine what information to report for its
material topics.

422

Topic 13.1 Emissions

423
424
425
426
427

This topic addresses emissions into the air, including greenhouse gas (GHG), ozone-depleting
substances (ODS), nitrogen oxides (NOX), sulfur oxides (SOX), and other significant air
emissions regarded as pollutants. Emissions can have negative impacts on air quality,
ecosystems, and on human and animal health. GHG emissions are also a major contributor toclimate change.

428
429
430
431

Agriculture is responsible for a large portion of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. From 2007 to 2016,
the sector accounted for approximately 13% of carbon dioxide (CO2), 44% of methane (CH4), and
82% of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from human activities globally, which was 23% of the total net
anthropogenic emissions of GHGs over this period [46].

432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440

In agriculture and aquaculture, the highest share of total emissions is associated with land usechange, including the conversion of land from a natural ecosystem for use by the sectors [46] (seealso topic 13.4 Natural ecosystem conversion). Forests contribute to the reduction of CO2 byabsorbing more carbon than they release, making them a carbon sink. Clearing forests or grasslands
results in large amounts of CO2 being released. Soils can also absorb greenhouse gas emissions.
Soil and pasture management practices can contribute to the capacity of soil to store carbon or
adversely accelerate the release of carbon from the soil into the atmosphere (see topic 13.5 Soil
health). Restoring and preserving carbon sinks, such as natural ecosystems and soils, plays an
integral role in mitigating climate change (see also topic 13.2 Climate adaptation and resilience).

441
442
443
444

Land management for crop production produces GHG emissions through soil cultivation, including
tillage, crop residue decomposition, and burning vegetation and crop residues. This results in the
production of CO2, N2O, and particulate matter. Fertilizers, pesticides, and fuels used to powermachinery and vehicles also release GHG emissions.

445
446
447
448

Ruminant livestock produce GHG emissions during respiration and digestion. Animal manure alsoemits gases, such as CH4, N2O, and CO2. Livestock on managed pastures and rangelands wasestimated accounted for over half of total anthropogenic N2O emissions from agriculture [46]. CH4 andN2O emissions have a higher global warming potential than CO2.

449
450
451
452
453

In animal production and aquaculture, emissions are also associated with animal and fish feedsourcing. These emissions can be caused by natural ecosystem conversion and the feed's
production, processing, and transportation. In aquaculture land-based farms, emissions are also
released from the combustion of fuel to generate the energy needed to regulate water temperatureand circulation.

454
455
456
457
458
459

Fishing activities produce emissions from burning fuels, such as diesel, marine fuel oils, andintermediate fuel oils. These fuels provide the power to fishing vessels to access marine stocks andpower onboard fish processing facilities, including freezing or refrigerating fish. Fishing vessels are
not necessarily optimized for fuel efficiency, further contributing to emissions. The combustion of fuelsalso produces localized air pollution, while the use of refrigerants to store fish products can result in
the emission of ozone-depleting substances.

460
461
462

The goal of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to well below 2°C requires organizations to
set emissions targets consistent with the cumulative carbon budgets that set a cap for the total
allowed CO2 emissions [42].

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463
464
465
466

Reducing emissions for the sectors includes measures that help mitigate the main sources of GHGs,
for example, measures to reduce methane (CH4) emitted by ruminants through better management offeed and manure, Or, in crop production, using culture-specific production practices, such as growing
rice using alternate wetting and drying methods that reduce methane production.

467

Reporting on emissions

468
469
470

If the organization has determined emissions to be a material topic, this sub-section lists thedisclosures identified as relevant for reporting on the topic by the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishingsectors.
STANDARDDISCLOSURE

SECTOR
STANDARDREF #Management of the topic
GRI 3: Material
Topics 2021

Disclosure 3-3 Management of material topics

Topic Standard disclosures
GRI 305:
Emissions 2016

Disclosure 305-1 Direct (Scope 1) GHG emissions
Additional sector recommendations•

When reporting on gross direct (Scope 1) GHG emissions
in metric tons of CO2 equivalent, include land use change
emissions.6

Disclosure 305-2 Energy indirect (Scope 2) GHG emissions

Disclosure 305-3 Other indirect (Scope 3) GHG emissions
Additional sector recommendations•

When reporting on gross other indirect (Scope 3) GHG
emissions in metric tons of CO2 equivalent, include land
use change emissions.

Disclosure 305-4 GHG emissions intensity
Disclosure 305-5 Reduction of GHG emissions
Disclosure 305-6 Emissions of ozone-depleting substances(ODS)
Disclosure 305-7 Nitrogen oxides (NOX), sulfur oxides (SOX),
and other significant air emissions

6 Land use change occurs when land is converted from one land use category to another; forinstance, when cropland is converted to grassland or when forests are converted to cropland. This
includes natural ecosystem conversion [48] (see also topic 13.4 Natural ecosystem conversion).

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471

References and resources

472
473
474
475
476
477

GRI 305: Emissions 2016 lists authoritative intergovernmental instruments and additional references
relevant to reporting on this topic.
The additional references used in developing this topic, as well as resources that may be helpful forreporting on emissions by the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors are listed in the
Bibliography.

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478

Topic 13.2 Climate adaptation and resilience

479
480
481
482

Organizations contribute to climate change and are simultaneously affected by it. Climate
adaptation and resilience refer to how an organization adjusts to current and anticipatedclimate change-related risks, as well as how it contributes to the ability of societies andeconomies to withstand impacts from climate change.

483
484
485

Major impacts of climate change include an increase in acute weather events and long-term shifts inclimate patterns. As a consequence, crop yields and biogeographic suitability have been negatively
impacted in recent decades.

486
487
488
489
490
491

In agriculture, crops can be damaged and harvests lost due to increased volatility, intensity, andduration of weather-related events. Warmer winters related to climate change affect fruits andvegetables that need a period of colder weather to produce viable harvests. Land degradation
exacerbated by global warming can also lead to increased frequency and severity of flooding,drought, pest prevalence, diseases, heat stress, dry spells, wind, sea-level rise, wave action, andpermafrost thaw.

492
493
494
495
496
497
498

Aquaculture and fishing operations are likely to be affected by water temperature increases, oxygen
deficit, sea-level rise, decreased pH levels, and changes in productivity patterns. Higher ocean
temperatures also means continued losses of marine habitats and species. Aquaculture and inlandfishing activities are also affected by changes in precipitation and water management, increased
stress on freshwater resources, and the frequency and intensity of extreme climate events. In tropicaland less developed regions, small-scale fishers are particularly vulnerable to climate change-related
impacts.

499
500
501
502
503
504

An organization’s failure to adapt to climate change-related impacts can lead to disruptions inoperations, increased occupational health and safety impacts, loss of livelihood, and food insecurity.
These disruptions can affect an organization's workers, suppliers, customers, as well as smallholder
farmers, fishers, indigenous peoples, and local communities. Disruptions in food production mean thatbetween 34 and 600 million more people could suffer from hunger by 2080, depending on how
climate change-related scenarios unfold [53] (see also topic 13.9 Food security).

505
506
507
508
509
510
511

Organizations can respond to climate change impacts by adopting practices and technologies thatbuild resilience. For example, in agriculture, low or no-till farming can reduce soil erosion, leading to
improved soil and water quality. Another important adaptation strategy for the sectors is thediversification in production through a wider genetic base with improvements in the tolerance of heatand drought. Mitigating food loss (see also topic 13.9 Food security) is another measure that
contributes to less land and natural resources needed to produce the same output, thereby reducing
GHG emissions.

512
513
514

Preserving indigenous and local knowledge of biodiversity can also be a contributing factor inenhancing climate resilience. Indigenous and local knowledge often focuses on preserving
ecosystems and offers adaptive strategies to cope with unfavorable conditions in local areas.

515

Reporting on climate adaptation and resilience

516
517
518

If the organization has determined climate adaptation and resilience to be a material topic, this subsection lists the disclosures identified as relevant for reporting on the topic by the agriculture,
aquaculture, and fishing sectors.
STANDARDDISCLOSURE

SECTOR
STANDARD REF#

Management of the topic
GRI 3: Material
Topics 2021

Disclosure 3-3 Management of material topics

Page 20 of 92

Topic Standard disclosures
GRI 201:
Economic
Performance
2016

Disclosure 201-2 Financial implications and other risks
and opportunities due to climate change
Additional sector recommendations•

Describe the climate change-related scenarios used
for identifying the risks and opportunities posed byclimate change.

519

References and resources

520
521
522
523
524

GRI 201: Economic Performance 2016 lists authoritative intergovernmental instruments andadditional references relevant to reporting on this topic.
The additional references used in developing this topic, as well as resources that may be helpful forreporting on climate adaptation and resilience by the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors arelisted in the Bibliography.

Page 21 of 92

525

Topic 13.3 Biodiversity

526
527
528
529
530

Biodiversity is the variability among living organisms. It includes diversity within species,
between species and of ecosystems. Biodiversity not only has intrinsic value, but is also vitalto human health, food security, economic prosperity, and mitigation of climate change andadaptation to its impacts. This topic covers impacts on biodiversity, including on plant andanimal species, genetic diversity, and natural ecosystems.

531
532
533
534

Biodiversity is essential for food production and a wide range of ecosystem services. According to theInternational Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), biodiversity faces five major threats: habitat
loss and degradation, overexploitation of biological resources, pollution, climate change, and invasive
species.

535
536
537
538
539
540

Agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing operations pose threats to biodiversity through air, soil, andwater contamination, deforestation, soil erosion, sedimentation of waterways, and species extraction.
Biodiversity generally declines as agriculture, aquaculture, or fishing activities intensify. This is largely
driven by natural ecosystem conversion and habitat change (see also topic 13.4 Natural ecosystem
conversion). Biodiversity impacts result in increased mortality rates of species, habitat fragmentation,and can lead to species loss or extinction.

541
542
543
544
545
546

Biodiversity can be adversely impacted by monoculture. Growing the same crops or rearing the same
animal species year after year may increase production but it also decreases agrobiodiversity on
farms and plantations and can compromise biodiversity in adjacent environments. In crop production,
continuous monocropping can result in a buildup of pests and diseases, usually requiring higher
volumes of pesticides, which can be toxic to many non-target species, including pollinators. About
40% of invertebrate pollinator species, particularly bees and butterflies, face extinction [71].

547
548
549
550
551

Animal production can be a major source of surplus nitrogen and phosphorous pollution, leading toeutrophication in adjacent lakes and rivers, rendering them uninhabitable for aquatic organisms (seealso topic 13.7 Water and effluents). Aquaculture activities have similar impacts due to a buildup offish excrement in waterbodies. These impacts can adversely affect the availability of fishery resources
and food for local communities.

552
553
554
555

Aquaculture can also result in impacts on local biodiversity through escapes from aquaculture farms,
which in turn can compete with the area’s native species. Poor feeding practices can result in excess
or insufficient feed for fish, adding to disease outbreaks and aquatic pollution. The presence of extra
feed can attract wild fish and predators to the water column.

556
557
558
559

Fishing is one of the most significant drivers of declining ocean biodiversity. This is largely due tooverfishing, by-catch, and illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUU). From 1974 to 2017, theproportion of the world’s fish stocks classified as overfished increased to 34.2%, with only about twothirds of global fish stocks deemed as biologically sustainable [see references 65 and 68].

560
561
562
563

Overfishing leads to impacts on the biodiversity of marine ecosystems by altering the composition of
species. These alterations result in impacts on predator-prey relationships and cause shifts in trophic
structures. Overfishing can be harder to prevent in international waters, where efforts to manage
stock sustainably are further complicated when fish move across country borders.

564
565
566
567
568

Fishmeal and fish oil are rich in protein and are typically used as fish and animal feed ingredients.
Fishing products used for feed can be derived from forage fish or fishing by-products, including
trimmings and offcuts. Overfishing forage fish stocks used for feed increases pressure on the wild
trophic structures. In aquaculture, further pressure on fish stocks can also be driven by using juvenile
seeds captured in the wild.

569
570
571
572

Certain fishing practices, for example, bottom trawling in areas of high biodiversity value, can damage
the seabed’s physical structure, affecting bottom plants, corals, sponges, fish, and other aquatic
animals. This practice can profoundly change how natural benthic ecosystems function or lead to theirdestruction. Seabed damage can also result in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

573
574
575
576

A phenomenon known as ‘ghost fishing’ can threaten both target and non-target species, potentiallykilling endangered and protected species and damaging underwater habitats. This phenomenon
occurs when fishing gear is lost or discarded and can continue to trap species indiscriminately. Lost or
discarded fishing gear also contributes to marine plastic pollution (see also topic 13.8 Waste).

Page 22 of 92

577
578
579
580

About 80% of terrestrial biodiversity is found in indigenous peoples’ lands and forests [76]; respecting
indigenous peoples’ rights to land and natural resources can also make a profound contribution tobiodiversity conservation (see topic 13.14 Rights of indigenous peoples and topic 13.13 Land andresource rights).

581

Reporting on biodiversity

582
583
584

If the organization has determined biodiversity to be a material topic, this sub-section lists thedisclosures identified as relevant for reporting on the topic by the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishingsectors.
STANDARDDISCLOSURE

SECTOR
STANDARDREF #Management of the topic
GRI 3: Material
Topics 2021

Disclosure 3-3 Management of material topics
Additional sector recommendations
The following additional sector recommendation is fororganizations in the aquaculture sector:• Describe the approach to preventing and managing
escapes of farmed aquatic organisms.

Topic Standard disclosures
GRI 304:
Biodiversity 2016

Disclosure 304-1 Operational sites owned, leased, managed
in, or adjacent to, protected areas and areas of highbiodiversity value outside protected areas
Disclosure 304-2 Significant impacts of activities, products andservices on biodiversity
Disclosure 304-3 Habitats protected or restored
Disclosure 304-4 IUCN Red List species and national
conservation list species with habitats in areas affected byoperations

Additional sector disclosures
The following additional sector disclosures are for organizations in the aquaculture
sector:•For each species of aquatic organisms produced, report:- species scientific name;- volume in metric tons;- farming methods;- production site.

•

For juvenile seeds stocks captured in the wild that are used as input toaquaculture production, report:- species scientific name;- volume in metric tons;- fishing methods;- locations of origin;

Page 23 of 92

- stock status, including the stock status assessments or systems used. 7•

Report the use of fishing products in feed, including the following:- species scientific name;- whether the whole fish or fish waste (trimmings, offcuts, and offal) is used;- locations of origin;- stock status, including the stock status assessments or systems used.

The following additional sector disclosure is for organizations in the fishing sector:•

For each species of aquatic organisms caught or harvested, including nontarget species, report:- species scientific name;- volume in metric tons;- fishing methods;- locations of origin;- stock status, including the stock status assessments or systems used.8

585

References and resources

586
587

GRI 304: Biodiversity 2016 lists authoritative intergovernmental instruments and additional references
relevant to reporting on this topic.

588
589
590

The additional authoritative instruments and references used in developing this topic, as well as
resources that may be helpful for reporting on biodiversity by the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishingsectors are listed in the Bibliography.

7 The organization can use any stock status assessments or systems that are relevant to the location of origin

and species.
8 The organization can use any stock status assessments or systems that are relevant to the location of origin

and species.

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591

Topic 13.4 Natural ecosystem conversion

592
593
594
595
596

Natural ecosystem conversion refers to changing a natural ecosystem to another use or a
profound change in a natural ecosystem’s species composition, structure, or function. This
topic covers impacts related to natural ecosystem conversion, including discrete incidents ofland clearance, severe degradation, or the introduction of practices that lead to substantial
and sustained change in natural ecosystems.

597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604

Natural ecosystems offer important services, including absorbing and storing vast quantities of carbon
dioxide (CO2). When natural ecosystems are converted to other uses, stored carbon can be released
into the atmosphere, contributing to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate change. Estimatesshow that the loss of primary tropical forests in 2019 resulted in the release of more than 2 billion tonsof CO2 [86] (see topics 13.1 Emissions and 13.2 Climate adaptation and resilience). Conversion ofnatural ecosystems can also lead to other environmental impacts, such as loss of biodiversity (seealso topic 13.3 Biodiversity), acceleration of soil erosion (see also topic 13.5 Soil health), andincreased runoff and water pollution (see also topic 13.7 Water and effluents).

605
606
607
608

In agriculture and aquaculture sectors, natural ecosystem conversion can occur through the use ofland and aquatic environments for animal breeding, grazing, crop production, aquaculture production,
and ancillary activities. This can occur rapidly, with a significant change taking place in a short time, or
gradually, with incremental changes over a long time.

609
610
611
612
613

Terrestrial ecosystem conversion can include the conversion of forests through deforestation and theconversion of other ecosystems, such as grasslands, woodlands, or savannas. Deforestation occurs
when primary and secondary forests are cleared, often by burning. Deforestation in tropicalrainforests can have a particularly severe impact because they are habitat to much of the world's
biodiversity.

614
615
616
617
618

Aquaculture operations can result in clearing of mangroves, salt marshes, and wetlands or produce
sustained changes to the coastal, lake, and river ecosystems to make them fit for aquatic farming
sites. Aquaculture also relies heavily on crops, such as soy, for fish feed which can contribute to theconversion of terrestrial ecosystems. Feed ingredients need to be traceable to identify and preventthe potential negative impacts associated with conversion (see topic 13.23 Supply chain traceability).

619
620
621
622
623

The rate of deforestation and conversion in the agriculture sector has been increasing to give way toplantations and pastures [91]. Deforestation and conversion occur in the supply chains of beef, soy,palm oil, cocoa, coffee, rubber, and other products. To be deemed deforestation- and conversion-free,products must be assessed as not causing or contributing to natural ecosystem conversion after anappropriate cut-off date.9

624
625
626
627
628
629
630

People can be displaced due to physical changes to the landscapes surrounding their communities ordegradation or depletion of natural resources or ecosystem services that the community relies on (seealso topic 13.12 Local communities and topic 13.13 Land and resource rights). Loss of natural
ecosystems and resources can also cause food insecurity. For indigenous peoples, natural
ecosystem conversion can result in the loss of cultural and spiritual heritage and livelihoods andimpact the rights to self-determination and self-governance (see also topic 13.14 Rights of indigenous
peoples).

9 A cut-off date is defined by the Accountability Framework as ‘the date after which deforestation or conversion

renders a given area or production unit non-compliant with no-deforestation or no-conversion commitments,
respectively’ [92].

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631

Reporting on natural ecosystem conversion

632
633
634

If the organization has determined natural ecosystem conversion to be a material topic, this subsection lists the disclosures identified as relevant for reporting on the topic by the agriculture,
aquaculture, and fishing sectors.
STANDARDDISCLOSURE

SECTOR
STANDARDREF #Management of the topic
GRI 3: Material
Topics 2021

Disclosure 3-3 Management of material topics
Additional sector recommendations• Describe policies or commitments to reduce or eliminate
natural ecosystem conversion, including target10 and cut-off11
dates, for the following:-

the organization’s own production;
sourcing of terrestrial animal and fish feed;
products sourced by the organization for aggregation,
processing, or trade.

• Describe how the organization ensures that its suppliers
comply with its natural ecosystem conversion policies andcommitments, including through sourcing policies andcontracts.
• Report the organization’s participation in multi-stakeholder,landscape12, or sectoral initiatives intended to reduce or
eliminate natural ecosystem conversion.
•

Describe the tools and systems used to monitor natural
ecosystem conversion in the organization’s activities, supply
chain, and sourcing locations.

Additional sector disclosures

10 A target date is defined by the Accountability Framework as ‘the date by which [the organization] intends tohave fully implemented its commitment or policy’ [92].
11 Cut-off dates may differ between commodities and regions. Appropriate cut-off dates can be selected based on

sector-wide or regional cut-off dates, or those specified in certification programs, legislation, or be based on theavailability of monitoring data. More guidance on identifying appropriate cut-off dates can be found in
Accountability Framework Operational Guidance on Cut-off Dates [93].
12 Landscapes refer to natural and/or human-modified ecosystems, often with a characteristic configuration of

topography, vegetation, land use, and settlements. Landscape initiatives refer to how organizations in the
production and sourcing of agricultural products need to work beyond their own supply chains to address
sustainability issues and support positive outcomes for the people and sourcing locations. These definitions are
based on Food and Agriculture Organization, Landscape approaches: key concepts [84] and Proforest,
Landscape initiatives [88].

Page 26 of 92

Report the percentage of production volume from land owned, leased or managed by
the organization determined to be deforestation- or conversion-free, by product, anddescribe the assessment methods used.13
For products sourced by the organization, report the following by product:-

the percentage of sourced volume determined to be deforestation- or
conversion-free, and describe the assessment methods used;
the percentage of sourced volume for which origins are not known to the point
where it can be determined whether it is deforestation- or conversion-free, anddescribe actions taken to improve traceability.

Report the size in hectares, the location, and the type14 of natural ecosystems
converted since the cut-off date on land owned, leased, or managed by theorganization.
Report the size in hectares, the location, and the type9 of natural ecosystems
converted since the cut-off date by suppliers or in sourcing locations.
635

References and resources

636
637
638

The authoritative instruments and references used in developing this topic, as well as resources that
may be helpful for reporting on natural ecosystem conversion by the agriculture, aquaculture, andfishing sectors are listed in the Bibliography.

13 Assessment methods can include monitoring, certification, sourcing from low-risk jurisdictions with no or

negligible recent conversion, or sourcing from verified suppliers.
14 Natural ecosystem type can be characterized by biome, vegetation type, or high conservation value status

relevant to the region and regulatory context.

Page 27 of 92

639

Topic 13.5 Soil health

640
641
642
643

Soil health is the capacity of soil to function as a living ecosystem and to sustain plant andanimal productivity, promote plant and animal health, and maintain or enhance water and air
quality. This topic covers impacts on soil health, including soil erosion, soil loss, andreduction in soil fertility.

644
645
646
647

Recent estimates suggest that 80% of agricultural land is affected by moderate to severe erosion [97].
Although soil erosion occurs naturally, agricultural activities can significantly accelerate this process,including through removing vegetation cover, tillage, soil compaction, irrigation, and overgrazing bylivestock.

648
649
650
651
652

In agriculture, original vegetation cover is removed to make land available for crop production or
animal grazing. Agricultural crops rarely hold onto the topsoil as well as the original vegetation cover,increasing soil erosion and potentially reducing soil fertility. Estimates show that half of the topsoil
globally has been lost in the past 150 years [102]. Grazing livestock can also cause impacts on soil
structure through excessive defoliation, defecation, and trampling.

653
654
655
656
657
658
659
660

Soil erosion can also be accelerated by tillage. Soil erosion in agricultural fields exceeds soil
formation at rates estimated between 10 to 20 times higher when there is no tillage and over 100
times higher when conventional tillage is used [101]. The increased erosion is because conventionaltillage inverts and breaks up the soil, destroys the soil structure, and buries crop residues. Tilled soils
have less capacity to support loads applied to the ground and are consequently more sensitive tocompaction caused by agricultural machinery, which can lead to impacts on soil biodiversity. Minimum
till or no-till methods, which reduce tillage area and tillage depth, crop protection, and other soil
management practices, can help to reduce soil erosion.

661
662
663
664

Fertilizers, both organic and inorganic, as well as pesticides, have an impact on soil health (see also
topic 13.6 Pesticides use). Excessive use of inorganic fertilizers can increase soil acidity levels andalter soil fertility. Pesticides can affect soil communities by influencing the performance of soil biota or
modifying it. This can compromise the abundance and composition of the entire soil food web.

665
666
667
668
669

The main ingredients of fertilizers commonly used in agriculture are nitrogen, phosphorus, andpotassium. The presence of phosphorus in agricultural runoff can accelerate eutrophication.
Alterations to the global nitrogen cycle can lead to the rise of nitrous oxide levels in the atmosphere.
Excessive use of nitrogen fertilizers in agriculture has been a major source of nitrate pollution in
groundwater and surface water affecting access to clean water for local communities.

670

Reporting on soil health

671
672
673

If the organization has determined soil health to be a material topic, this sub-section lists thedisclosures identified as relevant for reporting on the topic by the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishingsectors.
STANDARDDISCLOSURE

SECTOR
STANDARD
REF#

Management of the topic
GRI 3: Material
Topics 2021

Disclosure 3-3 Management of material topics
Additional sector recommendations•

Describe the soil management plan, including:- a link to this plan if publicly available;- the main threats to soil health identified and a
description of the soil management practices used;- the approach to input optimization, including the useof fertilizers.

Page 28 of 92

674

References and resources

675
676
677

The authoritative instruments and references used in developing this topic, as well as resources that
may be helpful for reporting on soil health by the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors arelisted in the Bibliography.

Page 29 of 92

678

Topic 13.6 Pesticides use

679
680
681

Pesticides are chemical or biological substances intended to regulate plant growth or control,
repel, or destroy any pest. This topic covers an organization’s approach and impacts related topesticides use, including the impact of their toxicity on non-target organisms.

682
683
684

Pesticides include herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, nematicides, and rodenticides and can be usedin crop production to control weeds and other pests15. Pesticides can decrease the spread of
diseases and pests, increase production yields, and potentially limit the need to convert more land.

685
686
687
688
689
690

Conversely, if not handled properly pesticides can induce adverse health effects in humans byinterfering with reproduction, immune, and nervous systems. Pesticides can also have negative
impacts on biodiversity because of their toxicological effects. For example, pesticides that target
insects or weeds can be toxic to birds, fish, and non-target plants and insects. These impacts canthreaten ecosystem services, such as pollination, and adversely impact food security and people’s
livelihoods (see also topic 13.3 Biodiversity).

691
692
693
694
695
696
697

Each pesticide has different properties and toxicological effects. The World Health Organization(WHO) classifies the toxicity hazard levels for pesticides as either extremely hazardous, highly
hazardous, moderately hazardous, slightly hazardous, or unlikely to present an acute hazard. Toxicity
depends on the pesticide’s function and other factors, such as its use and disposal. The regulation ofpesticides is not always consistent across the world. Some pesticides, usually those classified as
extremely and highly hazardous, are unregistered or banned in some countries but may remain
available in others.

698
699
700
701
702
703
704

Workers and other people in the immediate area have the potential to be most affected during or rightafter pesticides are applied. Pesticides can also stay in soil and water for years and have long-term
negative impacts on local communities and the local environment (see also topic 13.8 Waste).
Women and children can be particularly vulnerable to negative health effects caused by exposure topesticides (see topic 13.12 Local communities and also topic 13.19 Occupational health and safety).
Exposure to pesticide residue is also possible through food and water (see also topic 13.7 Water andeffluents and topic 13.10 Food safety).

705
706
707
708
709

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that in developing countries, 80% of theincrease in food production needed to keep pace with population growth is projected to come fromgreater crop yields. This could trigger a further intensification of pesticide use to generate higher
yields. The intensive use of pesticides sometimes leads to resistance and outbreaks of secondary
pests.

710
711
712
713
714

Integrated pest management in agriculture seeking to optimize pest control and mitigate negative
impacts is a widely recognized approach that considers biological, chemical, physical, and cropspecific pest control practices. When pest control through the application of chemicals cannot be
avoided, organizations are expected to manage pesticide use to minimize negative impacts and theapplication of extremely and highly hazardous pesticides [105].

15 Pest is defined by the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization as any species,

strain or biotype of plant, animal or pathogenic agent injurious to plants and plant products, materials or
environments and includes vectors of parasites or pathogens of human and animal disease and animals causing
public health nuisance [97].

Page 30 of 92

715

Reporting on pesticides use

716
717
718

If the organization has determined pesticides use to be a material topic, this sub-section lists thedisclosures identified as relevant for reporting on the topic by the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishingsectors.
STANDARDDISCLOSURE

SECTOR
STANDARD
REF#

Management of the topic
GRI 3: Material
Topics 2021

Disclosure 3-3 Management of material topics
Additional sector recommendations
•

•

•

•

Describe the pest management plan of the organization,
including the rationale for the selection and application ofpesticides and any other practices of pest control.
Describe actions taken to prevent, mitigate and/or
remediate negative impacts associated with the use of
extremely and highly hazardous pesticides.
Describe the actions, initiatives, or plans to switch to lesshazardous pesticides and actions taken to optimize pest
control practices.
Describe the training provided to workers on pest
management and the application of pesticides.

Additional sector disclosures
Report the volume and intensity of pesticides used by the following toxicity hazard
levels:16- Extremely hazardous;- Highly hazardous;- Moderately hazardous;- Slightly hazardous;- Unlikely to present an acute hazard.
719

References and resources

720
721
722

The authoritative instruments and references used in developing this topic, as well as resources that
may be helpful for reporting on pesticides use by the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors arelisted in the Bibliography.

16 The criteria for toxicity hazard levels and a list of pesticides classified by hazard level can be found in theWorld Health Organization Recommended Classification of Pesticides by Hazard [116].

Page 31 of 92

723

Topic 13.7 Water and effluents

724
725
726
727

Recognized as a human right, access to fresh water is essential for human life and well-being.
The amount of water withdrawn and consumed by an organization and the quality of its
discharges can have impacts on ecosystems and people. This topic covers impacts related to
the withdrawal and consumption of water and the quality of water discharged.

728
729
730
731

Water is a critical input for crop and animal production, as well as aquaculture. The agriculture sector
accounts for an estimated 70% of total water withdrawn globally [120]. In crop production, withdrawn
water is primarily used to irrigate land, apply pesticides and fertilizers, and control crop cooling andfrost.

732
733
734
735
736
737
738

Water has critical importance to agricultural productivity. On average, irrigated land is twice as
productive per unit as non-irrigated land. Irrigation can be achieved through different methods,
including surface irrigation or subsurface irrigation. Water can be withdrawn from groundwater orsurface water, such as lakes and reservoirs, or come in the form of treated wastewater or desalinatedwater. Intensive water withdrawal can decrease aquifer levels, which reduces the long-termsustainability of water resources and increases access costs for all users (see also topic 13.12 Local
communities).

739
740
741
742

In animal production, water is used for animal hydration and cleaning. It is also used for the washingand sanitization of milking and slaughter equipment used to process animal products. Effluentscontaining waste from terrestrial animals, fertilizers, and pesticides can contribute to the pollution of
surface and groundwater.

743
744
745
746

Aquaculture water use is associated with raising aquatic organisms in water and can requiresignificant amount of surface water. Aquaculture production occurs in ponds, artificial channels, and,to a lesser extent, closed-recirculation tanks. Because aquaculture operations take place in controlledenvironments, much of the water withdrawn can be returned to the source after use.

747
748
749
750
751
752

Nutrient buildup from discharges in water bodies near fish farms is a typical water impact fromaquaculture production. This issue is exacerbated in high-density farms when fish feces discharged
into water potentially deplete oxygen levels and create algal blooms that lead to eutrophication. The
eutrophication and acidification of water results in negative impacts on biodiversity. Water quality
affects habitat and food sources for animals. Contaminated water can also adversely affect people’s
access to clean water, compromising their health and livelihoods.

753
754
755
756
757

In fishing operations, wastewater can be discharged to the sea from fishing vessels. This includes
water used to store fish aboard the vessel, which can contain fish waste from gutting and bleeding, as
well as materials and coating from the hold and onboard refrigeration systems. Wastewater could alsocome from cleaning holds and machinery containing detergents, disinfectants and oily mixtures.
Discharges can cause oxygen depletion in sea water and pollution in coastal areas.17

758

Reporting on water and effluents

759
760
761

If the organization has determined water and effluents to be a material topic, this sub-section lists thedisclosures identified as relevant for reporting on the topic by the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishingsectors.
STANDARDDISCLOSURE

SECTOR
STANDARDREF #17 The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) contains provisions ondischarges of wastewater from vessels [117].

Page 32 of 92

Management of the topic
GRI 3: Material
Topics 2021

Disclosure 3-3 Management of material topics

Topic Standard disclosures
GRI 303: Water
and Effluents
2018

Disclosure 303-1 Interactions with water as a sharedresource
Disclosure 303-2 Management of water discharge-related
impacts
Disclosure 303-3 Water withdrawal

Disclosure 303-4 Water discharge
Disclosure 303-5 Water consumption
762

References and resources

763
764
765
766
767
768

GRI 303: Water and Effluents 2018 lists authoritative intergovernmental instruments and additionalreferences relevant to reporting on this topic.
The additional references used in developing this topic, as well as resources that may be helpful forreporting on water and effluent by the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors are listed in the
Bibliography.

Page 33 of 92

769

Topic 13.8 Waste

770
771
772
773

Waste refers to anything that a holder discards, intends to discard, or is required to discard.
When inadequately managed, waste can have negative impacts on the environment andhuman health, which can extend beyond the locations where waste is generated anddiscarded. This topic covers impacts from waste and the management of waste.

774
775
776
777

Waste from organizations in the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors includes organic waste,such as crop waste, animal manure, fish feces, animal carcasses; and inorganic waste, such as
plastics. It can also include hazardous waste, such as pesticides containers, and materials fromanimal health products.

778
779
780
781
782
783
784
785
786

Some organic by-products have the potential to be used as a biomass energy source, feed or
fertilizers, contributing to circularity measures. For example, trimmings and offcuts from aquaculture
and fishing operations can be turned into fishmeal and oil, while manure produced by animals is anorganic fertilizer that can improve soil health. However, if incinerated without energy recovery or
directed to landfills, by-products turn into waste and cause negative environmental impacts, including
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and water pollution (see also topic 13.7 Water and effluents, topic
13.1 Emissions). In addition, organic waste from terrestrial and aquatic animals may containmicroorganisms and parasite eggs. These pathogens can spread in receiving environments andcause ill health in humans.

787
788
789
790

In aquaculture operations, fish feed and feces can settle at the bottom of ponds or in inactive zones of
raceways as liquid or solid organic waste. Fish feces may also reach and pollute waterbodies.
Pollution and waste impacts from fish feces and settleable solids can be minimized through water
management (see also topic 13.7 Water and effluents).

791
792
793
794
795

Aquaculture activities generate considerable amounts of plastic waste. Plastics are widely used forequipment, disposable gloves, and for packaging various inputs, such as feed sacks and wrapped
consumables. Plastic can also be used in pond liners, harvest nets, pipework, buoys, ropes,
incubation jars, and containers. In fishing, various marine tools, such as floats, fishing nets and lines,
strapping bands, wire ropes, and sails, also consist of plastics.

796
797
798
799
800
801
802

Discarded or abandoned plastic waste can contaminate the surrounding environments and enter theocean and other waterbodies. Abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear contributes towaste and overfishing (see also topic 13.3 Biodiversity). Fish and aquatic animals sometimes mistakeplastic waste for food and get trapped in items such as ropes, nets, and bags. The management ofwaste generated onboard fishing vessels, including plastics, paper products, food waste, andchemicals, is regulated by international maritime standards (see references [125], [126], and [127] inthe Bibliography).

803
804
805
806
807

Incorrectly disposed waste from agriculture, aquaculture and fishing activities can have lasting
impacts on receiving environments, causing long-term contamination of soil and water. Contaminationof agricultural land and natural resources causes negative impacts on the health and safety of local
communities and can impact the safety of food produced (see also topic 13.10 Food safety, topic
13.12 Local communities, and topic 13.14 Rights of indigenous peoples).

808

Reporting on waste

809
810

If the organization has determined waste to be a material topic, this sub-section lists the disclosures
identified as relevant for reporting on the topic by the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors.
STANDARDDISCLOSURE

SECTOR
STANDARD REF #Management of the topic
GRI 3: Material
Topics 2021

Disclosure 3-3 Management of material topics

Page 34 of 92

Topic Standard disclosures
GRI 306: Waste
2020

Disclosure 306-1 Waste generation and significant wasterelated impacts
Disclosure 306-2 Management of significant waste-related
impacts
Disclosure 306-3 Waste generated
Additional sector recommendations
The following additional sector recommendations are fororganizations in the fishing sector:••

Report a breakdown of the total weight of waste
generated on vessels to which the International
Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships(MARPOL) is applicable by MARPOL categories inmetric tons18.
Describe the recovery and disposal operations used
to manage each MARPOL category of waste.

Disclosure 306-4 Waste diverted from disposal
Disclosure 306-5 Waste directed to disposal
811

References and resources

812
813

GRI 306: Waste 2020 lists authoritative intergovernmental instruments and additional references
relevant to reporting on this topic.

814
815

The additional references used in developing this topic, as well as resources that may be helpful forreporting on waste by the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors are listed in the Bibliography.

18 A list of ‘garbage types’ or categories can be found in MARPOL Annex V [127]. Further information on thesecategories can be found in the 2017 Guidelines for the Implementation of MARPOL Annex V [125].

Page 35 of 92

816

Topic 13.9 Food security

817
818
819
820

Food security means that people have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe, andnutritious food that is acceptable within a given culture and meets people’s dietary needs andfood preferences for an active and healthy life. Adequate food is a human right and is crucial
to the enjoyment of all rights. This topic covers impacts on the dimensions of food security 19.

821
822
823
824

Food insecurity is a prevalent global issue. In 2018, more than 820 million people faced hunger, andas populations grow, global food needs will increase [147]. Many people cannot afford food or areforced to consume insufficient or low-quality food. Since 2014, undernourishment and food insecurity
have consistently increased, putting global goals to end hunger at risk [146].

825
826

Agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing organizations have impacts on food supply and affordability.
Quantity, quality, and accessibility of food also depend on farming and fishing practices.

827
828
829
830
831
832
833

Globally, land used for agriculture is estimated at 38% of the total land surface [142]. Some regions
are already constrained, limiting further land use expansion for food production (see also topic 13.4
Natural ecosystem conversion). Almost half of the world’s calorie supply is derived from essential
crops, such as maize, rice, and wheat. Competing demands for land, cultivation costs, and low
margins may affect the supply and affordability of these crops. Climate change and adverse weather
events can also cause impacts on yields, potentially increasing food losses (see also topic 13.2
Climate adaptation and resilience).

834

Box 1. Food loss

835
836
837

In agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing, products originally intended as food for human consumptionthat end up as waste are categorized as food loss. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
estimates that 13.8% of food, from harvest to retail, was lost globally in 2016 [145].

838
839
840
841
842

Inefficiencies can cause food loss at different stages of the supply chain. At the farm level, they canbe due to inadequate harvesting time, climatic conditions, handling practices, post-harvest activities,
and challenges related to selling products. Food loss is accompanied by the loss of resources –including water, land, energy, labor, and capital – and contributes to greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions.

843
844
845

Measures to prevent food loss include adequate storage temperatures and conditions, soundinfrastructure, and efficient transportation. Primary processing conditions and packaging can play arole in preserving agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing products.

846
847

Achieving food security is likely to involve trade-offs in terms of how land and products are used. For
example, utilizing human-edible products for other uses means they are not available as food.

848
849
850
851
852
853

Intensive crop and animal production can result in increased availability of food. However, intensive
production can also be associated with negative impacts on the environment and yields in the longerterm. Many agricultural practices deplete soil nutrients more quickly than can be formed, undermining
the sustainability dimension of food security (see also topic 13.5 Soil health). Regenerative andorganic practices, such as rotating crops or planting at optimal times, are considered to have thepotential to contribute to greater soil health and productivity, and resilience of food production.

854

Reporting on food security

19 Food security has multiple dimensions: food availability, access, use, stability, and sustainability. An additional

dimension of agency is understood as the capacity of individuals or groups to make decisions about the food they
eat and how that food is produced [151].

Page 36 of 92

855
856
857

If the organization has determined food security to be a material topic, this sub-section lists thedisclosures identified as relevant for reporting on the topic by the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishingsectors.
STANDARDDISCLOSURE

SECTOR
STANDARDREF #Management of the topic
GRI 3: Material
Topics 2021

Disclosure 3-3 Management of material topics
Additional sector recommendations•
Describe the effectiveness of actions and programs onfood security at local, regional, national, or global levels.
•
Report partnerships which the organization is part of that
address food security, including engagement withgovernments.
•
Describe policies or commitments to address food loss inthe supply chain.

Additional sector disclosures
Report the total weight of food loss in metric tons and the food loss percentage, by
the organization’s main products or product category, and describe the methodology
used for this calculation.20
858

References and resources

859
860
861

The authoritative instruments and references used in developing this topic, as well as resources that
may be helpful for reporting on food security by the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors arelisted in the Bibliography.

20 Guidance on calculating the food loss percentage can be found in the Food Loss and Waste Accounting andReporting Standard [158] and the SDG 12.3.1: Global Food Loss Index [157].

Page 37 of 92

862

Topic 13.10 Food safety

863
864
865

Food safety concerns the handling of food and feed products in a way that prevents foodcontamination and food-borne illness. This topic addresses an organization’s efforts toprevent contamination and ensure food safety.

866
867
868
869
870

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 600 million people worldwide fall ill
after eating contaminated food each year, resulting in about 420,000 deaths annually [163]. Besides
threatening public health and well-being, food safety can affect local communities, which in turn may
lead to the loss of economic activity on local and global scales (see also topic 13.12 Local
communities).

871
872
873
874
875

Environmental contamination is a key driver of food safety impacts. The main sources ofcontamination from agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing activities include the pollution of water, soil,
or air used by crops or animals. Contamination can also be caused by the inadequate management ofcrops or animals during their growth, harvest, catch, or products’ primary processing, transportation,and storage.

876
877
878
879

Harmful bacteria, such as salmonella, listeriosis, or campylobacter, viruses and parasites cancontaminate food and cause ill health in humans. Similarly, food contamination can result from
antimicrobials and pesticides residues, heavy metals, and microplastics (see also topic 13.6
Pesticides use and 13.11 Animal health and welfare).

880
881
882
883
884
885

Globally, antimicrobials, such as chemical substances and antibiotics, are widely used in terrestrial
and aquatic animal production. High volumes of antimicrobials can contribute to the development of
antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, particularly in intensive animal production settings. The WHO
identifies antimicrobial resistance as one of the biggest threats to global health and humandevelopment [162]. Addressing antimicrobial resistance requires adequate animal health and welfare
standards, including the prudent use of antibiotics for animals.

886
887
888
889

Because food and feed products from one world region can supply another region, impacts on foodsafety can evolve from local into global issues, such as outbreaks of foodborne illnesses spreadbeyond country borders. To allow for recalls over food safety issues, products need to be traceable
through the supply chain (see topic 13.23 Supply chain traceability).

890

Reporting on food safety

891
892
893

If the organization has determined food safety to be a material topic, this sub-section lists thedisclosures identified as relevant for reporting on the topic by the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishingsectors.
STANDARDDISCLOSURE

SECTOR
STANDARDREF #Management of the topic
GRI 3: Material
Topics 2021

Disclosure 3-3 Management of material topics

Topic Standard disclosures
GRI 416:
Customer Healthand Safety 2016

Disclosure 416-1 Assessment of the health and safety
impacts of product and service categories
Disclosure 416-2 Incidents of non-compliance concerning
the health and safety impacts of products and services

Additional sector disclosures

Page 38 of 92

Report the percentage of production volume21 from sites certified to internationallyrecognized food safety standards, and list these standards.22
Report the number of recalls issued for food safety reasons and the total volume
of products recalled.
894

References and resources

895
896
897
898
899
900

GRI 416: Customer Health and Safety 2016 lists authoritative intergovernmental instruments andadditional references relevant to reporting on this topic.
The additional references used in developing this topic, as well as resources that may be helpful forreporting on food safety by the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors are listed in the
Bibliography.

21 Production volume refers to the total volume of products of the organization, including products sourced by theorganization from suppliers.
22 This disclosure covers certification programs, assurance schemes, or verification schemes which provide awritten assurance that a product is in conformity with certain requirements.

Page 39 of 92

901

Topic 13.11 Animal health and welfare

902
903
904
905
906

Animal health and welfare refers to an animal's physical and mental state in relation to theconditions in which it lives and dies. The ‘Five Freedoms’ of animal welfare are freedom fromhunger and thirst; freedom from discomfort; freedom from pain, injury, and disease; freedom
to express normal behavior; and freedom from fear and distress. This topic covers impacts on
animal health and the five freedoms of animal welfare.

907
908
909
910
911

Globally, over 60 billion terrestrial animals are reared each year, a figure set to double by 2050 due toincreases in animal protein consumption. Aquaculture farms produce 52 million tons of aquatic
animals, representing half of all seafood consumed by humans worldwide [171]. Animal health andwelfare is crucial because it concerns productivity, the safety of animal-derived products, and thehumane treatment of animals.

912
913
914
915
916
917
918
919

Animal health management focuses on controlling potential impacts on health and preventing
disease. This can include the use of antibiotics, anti-inflammatory, and hormone treatments. Overuseor misuse of antibiotics can contribute to antimicrobial resistance. Undesired residues of chemical
substances in animal products can negatively impacts food safety, creating public health risks (seetopic 13.10 Food safety). Inadequate animal health and welfare practices can also increase thespread of zoonotic diseases, such as salmonellosis, swine flu, and bird flu, which can occur throughthe movement and trade of terrestrial and aquatic animals and animal products without properbiosecurity controls.

920
921
922
923

The conditions that animals are kept in can cause negative impacts on animal health and welfare. For
example, terrestrial animals can be confined to small spaces, cages, or crates, preventing their
movement and inhibiting normal behavior. Highly confined spaces can also lead animals to be left
untreated for disease or injuries.

924
925
926
927

On-farm husbandry practices such as dehorning, hot-iron branding, castration, tail docking, anddebeaking are associated with pain and distress. Similarly, slaughter practices can be a major sourceof suffering and fear. Therefore, many countries require pre-slaughter stunning to render an animal
unconscious.

928
929
930
931

In aquaculture and fishing, commonly used slaughter methods include asphyxiation, carbon dioxidestunning, and ice chilling (see references [173] and [174] in the Bibliography). According to the World
Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), these methods fail to meet the standards set out in the Aquatic
Animal Health Code.

932
933
934
935
936
937

Water quality, stock density, and rearing environment in aquaculture operations have major impacts
on aquatic organisms’ health and welfare. Sea lice and diseases are among major health concerns forfarmed fish and can reduce survival. Substances used to treat pests, such as lice, are usuallyadministered via fish feed and water. When treatment is not managed properly, these substances cannegatively impact non-target species, such as crustaceans, resulting in biodiversity loss (see topic
13.3 Biodiversity).

938
939

Genetic modification performed on terrestrial and aquatic animals to increase growth and productivity
may also be a source of negative impacts on animal health and welfare.

940

Reporting on animal health and welfare

941
942
943

If the organization has determined animal health and welfare to be a material topic, this sub-section
lists the disclosures identified as relevant for reporting on the topic by the agriculture, aquaculture,and fishing sectors.
STANDARDDISCLOSURE

SECTOR
STANDARD REF #Management of the topic
GRI 3: Material
Topics 2021

Disclosure 3-3 Management of material topics

Page 40 of 92

Additional sector recommendations•

Describe policies regarding processing of animal
products, animal transportation, handling, housing andconfinement, and slaughter, by species.

•

Describe the approach to animal health planning andinvolvement of veterinarians, including the approach
to using anesthetic, antibiotic, anti-inflammatory,
hormone, and growth-promotion treatments, byspecies.

•

Describe commitments for responsible and prudent
use of antibiotics23 (e.g., avoiding prophylactic use)and describe how compliance with thesecommitments is evaluated.

•

Describe the results of assessments and audits ofanimal health and welfare, by species.

Additional sector disclosures
Report the percentage of production volume24 from sites of the organization
certified to third-party animal health and welfare standards, and list thesestandards.
The following additional sector disclosure is for organizations in the aquaculture
sector:Report the survival percentage of farmed aquatic animals and the main causesof mortality.
944

References and resources

945
946
947

The authoritative instruments and references used in developing this topic, as well as resources that
may be helpful for reporting on animal health and welfare by the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishingsectors are listed in the Bibliography.

23 Guidance on what constitutes responsible and prudent use for terrestrial animals can be found in Chapter 6.10

Responsible and prudent use of antimicrobial agents in veterinary medicine in the Terrestrial Animal Health Code2021 [168]. Guidance on what constitutes responsible and prudent use for aquatic animals can be found in
Chapter 6.2 Principles for responsible and prudent use of antimicrobial agents in aquatic animals in the Aquatic
Animal Health Code 2021 [167].
24 Production volume refers to the total volume of products of the organization, including products sourced by theorganization from suppliers.

Page 41 of 92948

Topic 13.12 Local communities

949
950
951
952
953

Local communities comprise individuals living or working in areas that are affected or that
could be affected by an organization’s activities. An organization is expected to conduct
community engagement to understand the vulnerabilities of local communities and how they
may be affected by the organization’s activities. This topic covers socioeconomic, cultural,
health, and human rights impacts on local communities.

954
955
956

Agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing organizations can have positive impacts on local communities
through employment and other economic impacts, but their use of land and natural resources canalso create negative impacts on communities.

957
958
959
960

Local communities can experience economic and environmental impacts from the extensive use ofgroundwater and surface water in agriculture operations. The depletion of water sources can create aneed for deepening wells and require more energy to pump water to the surface for irrigating crops
and domestic purposes (see also topic 13.7 Water and effluents).

961
962
963
964
965
966

Land use by organizations in the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors can restrict
communities’ access to land and natural resources and, in some cases, lead to displacement. In thecase of displacement, communities may be resettled to other areas, which are not always equivalent
in soil quality, suitability for agriculture, access to services, or cultural and social significance.
Compensation, if provided, may not always be adequate to make up for the resulting impacts on
cultural, economic, or leisure activities (see topic 13.13 Land and resource rights).

967
968
969
970
971
972

Inadequate management or disposal of hazardous substances used in agriculture and aquaculture,such as pesticides, can impact the environment, food safety, and health of communities living inproximity to operations. Cases of acute pesticide poisoning (APP) account for significant mortality
worldwide, especially in developing countries [189] (see also topic 13.6 Pesticides use). Gases
released from manure and organic waste contribute to air pollution, and odors can also cause
disturbances to local communities (see also topics 13.1 Emissions and 13.8 Waste).

973
974
975
976
977

Although agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing organizations are often major employers and income
providers in rural areas, many rural communities still suffer from poverty and food insecurity. Lack ofsufficient income and the negative impacts on land, water, and biodiversity can cause migration toother more viable areas. This can cause labor shortages and socioeconomic disruption in these areas(see also topic 13.22 Economic inclusion).

978
979
980
981
982

Vulnerable groups such as women, children, indigenous peoples, nomadic communities, and migrant
workers and their families can be disproportionately affected by agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing
operations. Such groups often lack influence and can be underrepresented in consultation anddecision-making processes, increasing the potential for negative impacts, including on their humanrights.

983
984
985
986
987
988

Engagement and consultation with local communities, including vulnerable groups, can contribute topreventing negative impacts (see also 13.13 Land and resource rights). Where groups do not havethe right to free, prior, and informed consent, they can be involved in participatory approaches tounderstand the effects of operations on their lives, rights, and well-being. Organizations are also
expected to establish or participate in effective operational-level grievance mechanisms which enablelocal communities to raise concerns and seek remedy.25

25 Grievance mechanisms that the organization has established or participated in are reported in Disclosure 2-25

Processes to remediate negative impacts in GRI 2: General Disclosures 2021. See Guidance to Disclosure 2-25
for more information on grievance mechanisms and expectations for organizations to provide for or cooperate inremediation.

Page 42 of 92

989

Reporting on local communities

990
991
992

If the organization has determined local communities to be a material topic, this sub-section lists thedisclosures identified as relevant for reporting on the topic by the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishingsectors.
STANDARDDISCLOSURE

SECTOR
STANDARD
REF#

Management of the topic
GRI 3: Material
Topics 2021

Disclosure 3-3 Management of material topics

Topic Standard disclosures
GRI 413: Local
Communities
2016

Disclosure 413-1 Operations with local community
engagement, impact assessments, and development programs
Disclosure 413-2 Operations with significant actual andpotential negative impacts on local communities

993

References and resources

994
995
996
997
998

GRI 413: Local Communities 2016 lists authoritative intergovernmental instruments and additionalreferences relevant to reporting on this topic.
The additional authoritative instruments and references used in developing this topic, as well as
resources that may be helpful for reporting on local communities by the agriculture, aquaculture, andfishing sectors are listed in the Bibliography.

Page 43 of 92

999

Topic 13.13 Land and resource rights

1000
1001
1002
1003
1004

Land and resource rights encompass the rights to use, manage and control land, fisheries,
forests, and other natural resources. An organization’s impacts on the availability andaccessibility of these can affect local communities and other users. This topic covers impacts
on human rights and tenure rights that result from an organization’s use of land and natural
resources.

1005
1006
1007
1008
1009
1010
1011

Acquiring legal rights to land and natural resources is often a complex process. In addition, forms ofland and resource tenure vary and can include public, private, communal, collective, indigenous, andcustomary tenure. Lack of recognition of customary claim to lands, fisheries, forests, and other natural
resources – whether or not they are formally titled or legally registered – is a common cause of landand natural resource conflicts and negative impacts on human rights. Human rights, including
people’s civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights, can all be affected by the sectors’ use ofland, fisheries, and forests [193].

1012
1013
1014
1015
1016
1017

Agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing organizations can be granted land and fishing concessions overterritories and fishing resources. Informal tenure in some countries reaches from 80 to 90% of totalland, and those living on this land might lack legal protection [204]. Organizations may infringe onland and resource rights if they fail to undertake prior consultation and an assessment of the impacts
with rightsholders. Fencing, landscape engineering, roads, and drainage works that block or divert
routes may also restrict people’s rights.

1018
1019
1020

Rightsholders whose rights are most commonly affected by resource rights conflicts include farmers
and fishers and their organizations, forest users, pastoralists, indigenous peoples, and local
communities (see also topic 13.14 Rights of indigenous peoples and topic 13.12 Local communities).

1021

Box 2. Human rights and land rights defenders

1022
1023
1024
1025
1026
1027
1028

Conflict situations can expose those who defend the rights related to land and natural resources torisks. More and more land rights defenders, smallholder farmers, indigenous community leaders,
media, and civil society representatives active on these issues have become victims of violence andpersecution. United Nations bodies, including special rapporteurs26 on human rights defenders, theright to food, and indigenous peoples, have reported physical attacks and reprisals against defenders
who oppose land appropriation and denounce forced evictions, environmental pollution and otherviolations [200].

1029
1030
1031

Fish captured in the wild is usually a common property resource. Therefore, fishing communities areimportant stakeholders concerned with the use of fishery resources and the entire ecosystem. This
includes access to ports, waters, high seas, and catch quotas.

1032
1033
1034

Fishery resources rights can be granted to organizations without due consideration for local fishers.
Commercial fishing vessels accessing fishing zones reserved for or used by small-scale fishers andfishing in coastal areas can change fishery resources by disrupting fish breeding habitats.

1035
1036
1037
1038

Agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing organizations are expected to identify legitimate rightsholders
through their own assessments and ensure independent verification of assessment results.
Organizations can contribute to securing land tenure and access to natural resources for rightsholders
by requiring their suppliers to respect such rights.

1039

Reporting on land and resource rights

26 Special rapporteurs are mandate-holders for special procedures of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

They are independent human rights experts with mandates to report and advise on human rights from a thematicor country-specific perspective. See reference [199] in the Bibliography.

Page 44 of 92

1040
1041
1042

If the organization has determined land and resource rights to be a material topic, this sub-section
lists the disclosures identified as relevant for reporting on the topic by the agriculture, aquaculture,and fishing sectors.
STANDARDDISCLOSURE

SECTOR
STANDARD REF #Management of the topic
GRI 3: Material
Topics 2021

Disclosure 3-3 Management of material topics
Additional sector recommendations•

Describe commitments to respect land and natural
resource rights (including customary, collective, andinformal tenure rights) 27 and report the extent to which
the commitments apply to the organization’s activities
and to its business relationships.

•

Describe how the commitments to respect land andnatural resource rights are implemented with
suppliers.

•

Describe the approach to protecting human rights andland rights defenders from reprisals (i.e., nonretaliation for raising complaints or concerns).

Additional sector disclosures
List the locations of operations, where land and natural resource rights(including customary, collective, and informal tenure rights) may be affected by
the organization’s operations.
Report the number, size in hectares, and location of operations where violationsof land and natural resource rights (including customary, collective, and informal
tenure rights) occurred and the groups of rightsholders affected.
1043

References and resources

1044
1045
1046

The authoritative instruments and references used in developing this topic, as well as resources that
may be helpful for reporting on land and resource rights by the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishingsectors are listed in the Bibliography.

27

The Voluntary guidelines on the responsible governance of tenure of land, fisheries and forests in the context
of national food security outlines guiding principles, rights and responsibilities for responsible tenure governance.
In article 3.2, it specifies that ‘non-state actors including business enterprises have a responsibility to respecthuman rights and legitimate tenure rights’ and outlines the associated expectations [193].

Page 45 of 92

1047

Topic 13.14 Rights of indigenous peoples

1048
1049
1050
1051
1052

Indigenous peoples are at higher risk of experiencing negative impacts more severely as aresult of an organization’s activities. Indigenous peoples have both collective and individual
rights, as set out in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples andother authoritative international human rights instruments. This topic covers impacts on therights of indigenous peoples.

1053
1054
1055
1056
1057

Indigenous peoples find deep cultural and spiritual value in their lands and territories, and often rely
on natural resources for subsistence. These natural resources and cultural sites are located on landthat indigenous communities customarily own, occupy, or use. Customary rights – a cornerstone of
the rights of indigenous peoples under international law – are frequently not recognized in practice,which can lead to these rights being violated (see topic 13.13. Land and resource rights).

1058
1059
1060
1061

The agriculture sector is a significant driver of land acquisitions to expand food production. Largescale land acquisitions, including through foreign investment, can be facilitated to increase the size offarms and plantations and generate revenues through export. This often happens in regions whereindigenous peoples have long derived their livelihoods from what ecosystems offer.

1062
1063
1064

The use of natural resources by the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors can have acuteimpacts on indigenous peoples. These impacts can threaten traditional hunting, fishing, and farming
activities. Indigenous knowledge and culture may also be lost when disrupted.

1065
1066
1067
1068

Indigenous farming practices are intertwined with indigenous cultures and are deeply linked toparticular places. Natural ecosystem conversion and water use for agricultural and aquaculturalactivities can affect traditional farming. The environmental impacts from waste can lead to pollution
and contamination of indigenous land and natural resources.

1069
1070
1071
1072
1073
1074

Indigenous fishing communities rely on fish as their main food source, which is a central part of theirtraditional practices so their livelihoods, food security, and culture can be undermined due to thenegative impacts on fishery resources. The degradation of local aquatic and coastal ecosystems,
overfishing, and stock depletion, can reduce the availability and accessibility of these fisheryresources. At the same time, the increased competition with commercial fishing operations or the
introduction of non-local species can also negatively impact fishery resources.

1075
1076
1077
1078
1079

Because of the close relationship with the environment and dependence on natural resources,indigenous peoples are particularly affected by climate change. Climate change can further
exacerbate the vulnerability of indigenous communities due to impacts on the availability of traditional
food sources and decreased crop yields, jeopardizing traditional lifestyles (see also topic 2.2 Climate
adaptation and resilience and topic 2.3 Biodiversity).

1080
1081
1082
1083
1084
1085

The fundamental rights to self-determination and non-discrimination mandate respect for indigenous
peoples’ collective and individual rights. Before initiating development or other activities that could
have impacts on lands or resources that indigenous peoples use or own, organizations are expected
to seek free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC). The relocation of indigenous peoples cannot occur
without FPIC, and an agreement on just and fair compensation must be in place before relocation
occurs and, where possible, with the option of return [210].

1086
1087
1088
1089
1090
1091

When disputes take place, indigenous communities often lack legal and technical support, as well as
access to remedy. This can lead to unfair compensation for lost access to resources, income
insecurity, marginalization of indigenous communities, discrimination, displacement, loss of livelihood,and other negative impacts on human rights. In addition, indigenous women may be more severely
exposed to negative impacts because of gender discrimination (see topic 13.15 Non-discriminationand equal opportunity).

1092

Reporting on rights of indigenous peoples

1093
1094
1095

If the organization has determined rights of indigenous peoples to be a material topic, this sub-section
lists the disclosures identified as relevant for reporting on the topic by the agriculture, aquaculture,and fishing sectors.

Page 46 of 92

STANDARDDISCLOSURE

SECTOR
STANDARD REF #Management of the topic
GRI 3: Material
Topics 2021

Disclosure 3-3 Management of material topics
Additional sector recommendations•

Describe the approach to engaging with indigenous
peoples, including:- how the organization seeks to ensure meaningful
engagement;- how the organization seeks to ensure indigenous
women can participate safely and equitably.

Topic Standards disclosures
GRI 411: Rights
of Indigenous
Peoples 2016

Disclosure 411-1 Incidents of violations involving rights ofindigenous peoples
Additional sector recommendations•

Describe the identified incidents of violations involving
the rights of indigenous peoples.

Additional sector disclosures
List the locations of operations where indigenous peoples are present or affected by activities of theorganization.
Report if the organization has been involved in a process of seeking free, prior, and informed consent(FPIC)28 from indigenous peoples for any of the organization’s activities, including, in each case:• whether the process has been mutually accepted by the organization and the affectedindigenous peoples;• how the organization ensured that the constituent elements of FPIC have been implemented
as part of the process;29• whether an agreement has been reached and, if so, whether the agreement is publicly
available.
1096

References and resources

1097
1098

GRI 411: Rights of Indigenous Peoples 2016 lists authoritative intergovernmental instruments andadditional references relevant to reporting on this topic.

1099
1100
1101

The additional intergovernmental instruments and references used in developing this topic, as well as
resources that may be helpful for reporting on the rights of indigenous peoples by the agriculture,
aquaculture, and fishing sectors are listed in the Bibliography.

28 The normative framework for free, prior and informed consent consists of a series of international legal

instruments including the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples [210], the International
Labour Organization Convention 169 (ILO 169) [208], and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) [209].
29 Free, prior and informed consent cannot be achieved if one of the constituent elements is missing [210]. The

constituent elements are further described in ‘Free, prior and informed consent: a human rights-based approach Study of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples’ [224].

Page 47 of 92

1102

Topic 13.15 Non-discrimination and equal opportunity

1103
1104
1105
1106

Freedom from discrimination is a human right and a fundamental right at work. Discrimination
can impose unequal burdens on individuals or deny fair opportunities on the basis ofindividual merit. This topic covers impacts from discrimination and an organization’s practices
related to equal opportunity.

1107
1108
1109
1110
1111

Many agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sector workers are self-employed or informally employed.
Casual and seasonal employment is also widespread. Non-standard forms of employment common in
the sectors can be a factor increasing the likelihood of discriminatory treatment of workers. Workers
can often face discrimination in terms of labor protection and might not enjoy equal rights or treatment
for work of equal value, including lower job security, wages, benefits, and paid leave.

1112
1113
1114
1115
1116
1117

The agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors commonly use migrant labor, including temporary
migrant labor. Because of their migrant status, migrant workers may be subject to discriminatory
treatment regarding remuneration, access to occupational health services, and employment
protection. In fishing, vessel crews are typically subject to discriminatory pay based on nationality.
Undocumented migrant workers can be even more vulnerable to discrimination and labor abuses (seealso topic 13.16 Forced or compulsory labor and topic 13.20 Employment practices).

1118
1119
1120
1121
1122

People living off traditional farming and fishing, including smallholder farmers, landless workers, andcommunities, can experience discriminatory treatment. For example, they may face inequality inaccessing land or employment, thus lacking opportunities to provide for themselves. This canexacerbate the likelihood of negative impacts on their human rights and render them more vulnerable
to labor exploitation (see topic 13.12 Local communities).

1123
1124
1125

Characteristics among indigenous workers that may deviate from social practices of the majority,
including languages and clothing, can also lead to employment discrimination in the sectors.
Indigenous women can face discrimination on the grounds of both ethnicity and gender.

1126
1127
1128
1129
1130
1131

Women working in agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing often experience gender discrimination
through poorer working conditions, unequal opportunities, and lower wages than those of men.
Women are more frequently involved in lower-paid or less secure forms of employment. In fishing,
women play crucial roles throughout the value chain, working for commercial and small-scale
fisheries, however, they are typically less involved in offshore and long-distance fishing, which usually
pays more.

1132
1133
1134

Women are also often less involved in cooperatives and farmer organizations, limiting their access toprocessing facilities, improved technologies, and agricultural inputs. The result can be lower earnings
due to smaller yields despite working long hours.

1135
1136
1137
1138

Discrimination against women in the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors can also include
gender-based violence and harassment. It is less likely that women performing seasonal work or
informal work report sexual violence and other abuses they experience, and women in such work
arrangements may have less possibility to seek remedy.

1139

Box 3. Women’s rights

1140
1141
1142
1143

The majority of economically active women in low-income countries work in agriculture [229]. In many
countries, women do not have the same rights as men, or even if they do legally, the rights may go
unrecognized. These include rights to buy, sell, or inherit land; to open a savings account or borrowmoney; to sign a contract; and to sell their produce.

1144
1145
1146
1147
1148
1149

Traditional gender roles can restrict women’s freedom of movement and prevent them from bringing
their produce to market or leaving their villages without the permission of male relatives. Social
conventions and gender norms often regard women’s work activities and output as part of theirtraditional caretaking role rather than participation in the market economy, thus underestimating theireconomic contribution. Women in these situations do not enjoy the right to the same decent standardof living as men.

1150
1151
1152

Women can also be denied their rights when it comes to maternity protection. Benefits such as
maternity leave and childcare allowance might be inaccessible for women in the agriculture,
aquaculture, and fishing sectors.

Page 48 of 92

1153

Reporting on non-discrimination and equal opportunity

1154
1155
1156

If the organization has determined non-discrimination and equal opportunity to be a material topic, thissub-section lists the disclosures identified as relevant for reporting on the topic by the agriculture,
aquaculture, and fishing sectors.
STANDARDDISCLOSURE

SECTOR
STANDARD REF #Management of the topic
GRI 3: Material
Topics 2021

Disclosure 3-3 Management of material topics

Topic Standard disclosures
GRI 405:
Diversity and
Equal
Opportunity 2016

Disclosure 405-1 Diversity of governance bodies andemployees
Disclosure 405-2 Ratio of basic salary and remunerationof women to men
Additional sector recommendations

GRI 406: Nondiscrimination
2016• Report the ratio of the basic salary and remunerationof women to men for workers who are not employees
and whose work is controlled by the organization.
Disclosure 406-1 Incidents of discrimination andcorrective actions taken

Additional sector disclosures
Describe any differences in employment terms and approach to compensation
based on workers’ nationality or migrant status, by location of operations.
1157

References and resources

1158
1159

GRI 405: Diversity and Equal Opportunity 2016 and GRI 406: Non-discrimination 2016 list
authoritative intergovernmental instruments relevant to reporting on this topic.

1160
1161
1162

The additional authoritative instruments and references used in developing this topic, as well as
resources that may be helpful for reporting on non-discrimination and equal opportunity by the
agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors are listed in the Bibliography.

Page 49 of 92

1163

Topic 13.16 Forced or compulsory labor

1164
1165
1166

Forced or compulsory labor is work or service which is exacted from any person under the
menace of penalty and for which a person has not offered themselves voluntarily. Freedom
from forced labor is a human right and a fundamental right at work.

1167
1168
1169
1170
1171

The International Laboure Organization (ILO) has identified the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishingsectors as highly susceptible to forced or compulsory labor. Workers face non-payment or latepayment of wages, restrictions on freedom of movement, violence, threats, human trafficking, andother forms of modern slavery. Instances of forced labor have been documented in the supply chainsof most products in the sectors (see references [251], [256] and [257]).

1172
1173
1174
1175
1176

Agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing workers are unlikely to be unionized, often earn less, and havefewer skills than workers in other sectors. The sectors are labor-intensive and have a high demand forworkers, often filled by employment agencies. National labor laws do not always provide labor
protection to smallholder farmers, small-scale fishers, or seasonal and casual workers (see topic 2.20
Employment practices).

1177
1178
1179
1180

Work is these the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing is often undertaken in remote or low-income
rural areas. This can exacerbate the likelihood of abusive labor practices and cause workers to
become indebted to their employers due to fees owed for job access or accommodation. In somecases, employers may use debt bondage to prevent workers from leaving.

1181
1182
1183
1184

Migrant workers in the sectors are more likely to work under conditions of coercion. They may nothave valid work permits or be unaware of their legal status and even have their passports or
identification documents taken away. Undocumented migrant workers can also be forced or coerced
into illegal farming or fishing operations, carrying higher risks for their health and safety.

1185
1186
1187

Migrant fishing workers are a particularly vulnerable group. They often come from lower-income
countries and can be trafficked or unaware of having crossed multiple borders, putting their humanrights and even their lives at risk.

1188
1189
1190
1191
1192

In fishing operations, the continued pressure to deliver higher product volumes while keeping laborcosts low can contribute to instances of abusive labor practices. Eliminating forced labor aboard
fishing vessels and enforcing workers’ rights can require additional effort because fishing vessels
regularly operate offshore or under the flag of a country far removed from the fishing location.
International standards largely rely on flag states to enforce labor laws on board fishing vessels.

1193
1194

Identifying and preventing forced labor also requires understanding supply chains, where traceability
plays a key role (see topic 13.23 Supply chain traceability).

1195

Reporting on forced or compulsory labor

1196
1197
1198

If the organization has determined forced or compulsory labor to be a material topic, this sub-section
lists the disclosures identified as relevant for reporting on the topic by the agriculture, aquaculture,and fishing sectors.
STANDARDDISCLOSURE

SECTOR
STANDARDREF #Management of the topic
GRI 3: Material
Topics 2021

Disclosure 3-3 Management of material topics

Topic Standards disclosures
GRI 409: Forced
or Compulsory
Labor 2016

Disclosure 409-1 Operations and suppliers at significant risk
for incidents of forced or compulsory labor

Page 50 of 92

1199

References and resources

1200
1201

GRI 409: Forced or Compulsory Labor 2016 lists authoritative intergovernmental instruments relevant
to reporting on this topic.

1202
1203
1204

The additional intergovernmental instruments and references used in developing this topic, as well as
resources that may be helpful for reporting on forced or compulsory labor by the agriculture,
aquaculture, and fishing sectors are listed in the Bibliography.

Page 51 of 92

1205

Topic 13.17 Child labor

1206
1207
1208
1209

Child labor is defined as work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential, andtheir dignity, and that is harmful to their development, including by interfering with theireducation. It is a violation of human rights and can lead to lifelong negative impacts. Abolitionof child labor is a fundamental principle and right at work.

1210
1211
1212

The agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors have the highest share of child labor compared to allother sectors and instances of child labor have been documented in the supply chains of many
products in the sectors (see references [266] and [272]).30

1213
1214
1215
1216
1217
1218
1219

More than 70% of all children in child labor are engaged in agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing. Thisis even higher among those aged five to 11 [266]. In some contexts, children's participation in nonhazardous agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing work can contribute to a child’s skill-building andpersonal development. However, work defined as child labor is not associated with positive impacts
and is considered inappropriate for a child based on hazards, hours, conditions of work, andinterference with schooling. In some parts of the world, child labor may be socially acceptable,
contributing to the propagation of the practice.

1220
1221
1222
1223
1224

Children working in agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing may perform tasks suited only for adult
workers. These tasks are likely to have negative impacts on their health or development. For
example, children can be tasked with applying pesticides in the agriculture sector. Exposure topesticides can be particularly hazardous for children, as their bodies are more vulnerable to toxins,
leading to increased risks of childhood cancers and impaired cognitive processes.

1225
1226
1227

Children are often designated to take care of animals. Because animal production activities areintensive, involving cleaning animals and their housing, collecting water, feeding, and milking, children
can drop out of schooling, unable to combine it with this type of work.

1228
1229
1230
1231
1232

In fishing, children work throughout the supply chain, performing tasks such as catching, processing,and selling fish and other aquatic products. Fishing communities may have few sources of income,and child labor is frequently used to supplement income or in subsistence activities. Long hours andnightshifts in these sectors can also subject children to hazardous working conditions (see topic 13.19
Occupational Health and Safety).

1233
1234
1235

Large parts of the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors involve informal work, increasing the
likelihood of child labor. Seasonal work presents additional risks and raises the likelihood of school
absence. Missing school for work negatively affects children’s right to education.

1236
1237
1238

Less than one-third of children undertaking work receive payment. In many cases this is because
children are working in family-run operations. Children also typically earn less than adults and, insome cases, they are also more productive, which employers may find advantageous.

1239
1240

The International Labour Organization (ILO) identifies forced child labor and hazardous child labor as
the worst forms of child labor [259]. A quarter of children in child labor fall victim to forced labor (see30 The United States Department of Labor has documented cases of child labor in the production of bananas in

Belize, Brazil, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and the Philippines; beans in Mexico and Paraguay; citrus fruit in Belize andTurkey; cocoa in Brazil, Cameroon, Ghana, Guinea, and Sierra Leone; coffee in Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica,
Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guinea, Honduras, Kenya, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Sierra
Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, and Vietnam; and rice in Brazil, Dominican Republic, Kenya, the Philippines, Uganda,
and Vietnam. They have also documented cases of child labor in the production of beef in Brazil, and cattle inChad, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Mauritania, Namibia, Uganda, and Zambia. Child labor inaquaculture has been documented in cases involving fish in Brazil, Cambodia, Kenya, Paraguay, Peru,
Philippines, Uganda, Vietnam, and Yemen; shellfish in El Salvador and Nicaragua; and shrimp in Bangladesh
and Cambodia (See reference [272] in the Bibliography).

Page 52 of 92

1241
1242
1243

topic 2.16 Forced or compulsory labor). This can happen when, for example, labor brokers recruit andforce children to travel far from home. In cases of debt bondage to an employer, parents might havetheir children work alongside them.

1244
1245

Young workers are also recognized as a vulnerable group under child labor standards and are subject
to protection from hazardous work, which they may be exposed to in the sectors.

1246

Box 4. Young workers

1247
1248
1249
1250

Young workers above the applicable minimum working age and younger than 18 years are subject tospecific protections regarding the types of work they can perform. Young persons are still in cognitiveand physical development and therefore considered more vulnerable to negative impacts at work thanadults.

1251
1252
1253
1254

According to the ILO, the work performed by young workers needs to be consistent with their physicaland mental development. Young workers in agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing may be exposed tohazardous working conditions, occupational injuries, and disease. Restrictions also apply to work
hours to reduce their vulnerability.

1255

Reporting on child labor

1256
1257
1258

If the organization has determined child labor to be a material topic, this sub-section lists thedisclosures identified as relevant for reporting on the topic by the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishingsectors.
STANDARDDISCLOSURE

SECTOR
STANDARD
REF#

Management of the topic
GRI 3: Material
Topics 2021

Disclosure 3-3 Management of material topics

Topic Standards disclosures
GRI 408: Child
Labor 2016

Disclosure 408-1 Operations and suppliers at significant risk
for incidents of child labor

1259

References and resources

1260
1261

GRI 408: Child Labor 2016 lists authoritative intergovernmental instruments and additional references
relevant to reporting on this topic.

1262
1263
1264

The additional intergovernmental instruments and references used in developing this topic, as well as
resources that may be helpful for reporting on child labor by the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishingsectors are listed in the Bibliography.

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1265

Topic 13.18 Freedom of association and collective bargaining

1266
1267
1268
1269
1270

Freedom of association and collective bargaining are human rights and fundamental rights atwork. They include the rights of employers and workers to form, join, and run their own
organizations without prior authorization or interference, and to collectively negotiate working
conditions and terms of employment. This topic covers an organization’s approach andimpacts related to freedom of association and collective bargaining.

1271
1272
1273

The rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining of many workers in the agriculture,
aquaculture, and fishing sectors remain at risk. Workers are still denied their rights to organize andbargain collectively in many countries, preventing them from effectively protecting their interests.

1274
1275
1276
1277
1278

Low-income workers, workers in informal employment, migrant, seasonal, and casual workers facebarriers to exercising the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining. This is amplified by
the asymmetric balance of power between employers and workers. Lack of access to freedom of
association and collective bargaining can exacerbate impacts on workers who already face increased
work-related vulnerabilities and isolation (see topic 13.15 Non-discrimination and equal opportunity).

1279
1280
1281
1282
1283

While it is more common for workers in large commercial agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing
operations to be represented by trade unions and covered by collective bargaining agreements, onlya small percentage are organized. Organizations preventing unionization of workers in the sectors is arecurring issue. Trade unions’ members have also experienced intimidation and violence (seereferences [281], [286] and [287]).

1284
1285
1286
1287
1288
1289

Seasonal workers might find it hard to join unions due to their short-term employment. Trade unions
have reported restrictions on temporary workers or workers employed by suppliers to access thesame rights as other employees effectively. In some cases, organizations purposely hire workers on
short-term contracts or outsource jobs so that workers are not able to join trade unions. Migrant
workers can be more vulnerable in this regard, as they can be explicitly banned from joining national
unions of countries where they work.

1290
1291
1292

According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), all workers – including self‐employedpersons, smallholder farmers, small-scale fishers, and those working in the informal economy –should enjoy the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining.

1293

Reporting on freedom of association and collective bargaining

1294
1295
1296

If the organization has determined freedom of association and collective bargaining to be a material
topic, this section lists the disclosures identified as relevant for reporting on the topic by the
agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors.
STANDARDDISCLOSURE

SECTOR
STANDARD REF#

Management of the topic
GRI 3: Material
Topics 2021

Disclosure 3-3 Management of material topics

Topic Standards disclosures
GRI 407: Freedomof Association
and Collective
Bargaining 2016

Disclosure 407-1 Operations and suppliers in which theright to freedom of association and collective bargaining
may be at risk

1297

Page 54 of 92

1298

References and resources

1299
1300

GRI 407: Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining 2016 lists authoritative intergovernmental
instruments relevant to reporting on this topic.

1301
1302
1303

The additional intergovernmental instruments and references used in developing this topic, as well as
resources that may be helpful for reporting on freedom of association and collective bargaining by the
agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors are listed in the Bibliography.

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1304

Topic 13.19 Occupational health and safety

1305
1306
1307

Healthy and safe work conditions are recognized as a human right. Occupational health andsafety involves the prevention of physical and mental harm to workers and promotion ofworkers’ health. This topic covers impacts related to workers’ health and safety.

1308
1309
1310

Agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing are listed among the most hazardous sectors, with high numbersof work-related injuries and ill health each year [304, 309]. Work-related hazards associated with
agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing include:

1311
1312
1313

-

1314
1315
1316
1317
1318
1319
1320
1321
1322
1323
1324

-

Because workers in agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors often live where they work,
occupational health and safety impacts can also be associated with workers’ living conditions.
Adequate working and living conditions provide access to potable drinking water, quantity and qualityof food, hygiene, sanitation, and appropriate accommodation. Workers are entitled to safe, hygienic,
and socially acceptable access to sanitation, a lack thereof can increase the risk of contracting
infectious diseases.

1325
1326
1327
1328

Workers may work long hours and many consecutive days in the agriculture sector, especially whenharvesting crops. They can be exposed to pesticides and other chemical substances used. Children
living with workers on farms and plantations can also be exposed to hazardous substances (see also
topic 13.17 Child labor and topic 13.6 Pesticides use).

1329
1330
1331
1332
1333
1334

Fishing is associated with many risks, such as ill health, work-related injuries, and death. Fishing far
offshore is considered one of the most dangerous occupations. Vessel disasters and falls overboard
pose the greatest safety risks and are the sector’s leading causes of fatalities. Vessel safety risks arelinked to weather, lack of weather warning systems, power loss, engine failure, or inadequate
maintenance levels. At-sea crew transfers between fishing vessels and support vessels can pose
additional safety risks, especially in rough seas.

1335
1336
1337
1338

Most fishing vessels fall outside of size parameters regulated by international maritime safety
standards. Small-scale fishers operate millions of fishing vessels that vary in degree of sophistication.
Frequently, these vessels prove unsuitable for the conditions in which they may be used, such as
carrying considerable amounts of fish or sailing far offshore.

1339
1340
1341
1342

Vessel safety standards address risks related to general safety, such as fire safety, lighting,ventilation, personal safety, vessel stability, and survival at sea. Vessel safety training serves toprevent vessel disasters and ensure compliance with the safety standards. Insurance schemes canfurther provide income security for fishers and, in case of death or injury, to their families.

1343
1344
1345
1346
1347

Primary fish processing, such as catching, sorting, and storing fish, often requires handling dangerous
tools, such as knives and hooks. When fish are manually beheaded, gutted, skinned, or filleted, it iscommon for workers to experience cuts or severe lacerations. Fish and other aquatic animals' bites,
stings, and tail kicks can also lead to injuries. In the case of ill health or injury offshore, professional
medical care or even an urgent medical evacuation might be unavailable.

1348
1349
1350
1351
1352

Fishing can involve long hours at sea, far offshore. The daily and weekly rest requirements
determined by crewing levels can also affect fishing crews' health and safety. Because workers canreside aboard fishing vessels for long periods, poor living conditions can also disrupt their rest
periods. Fishers may also experience difficulty taking shore leave or getting off their vessels at foreign
ports.

handling dangerous machinery, tools, vessels, and vehicles;
exposure to excessive noise and vibration, causing hearing and other sensory problems;
slips, trips, falls from heights, falls overboard, and drowning;
working with animals considerably heavier than the worker, lifting heavy weights, and otherwork giving rise to musculoskeletal disorders;
working near people or animals, increasing the risk of exposure to infectious diseases;
attacks by wild animals;
exposure to dust and potentially harmful organic substances and chemicals;
exposure to extreme temperatures and severe weather.

Page 56 of 92

1353
1354
1355
1356
1357

Fishers may be abandoned by vessel owners without the prospect of payment or repatriation (seetopic 13.20 Employment practices). There have been documented cases showing someabandonment lasting for many months. Abandonment can have health and safety impacts, includinglack of medical care and regular food provision and harm to mental health caused by keeping people
in a state of high uncertainty.

1358
1359
1360
1361

Due to a lack of safety norms enforcement and inspection, illegal fishing operations and operations incontested waters can negatively impact the health and safety of workers. Addressing illegal,
unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in supply chains can help eliminate factors leading tocompromised health and safety standards (see also topic 13.23 Supply chain traceability).

1362
1363

The often isolated and transboundary movement of vessels means consistent access for labor
inspection, and occupational health and safety policy enforcement remains difficult.

1364

Reporting on occupational health and safety

1365
1366
1367

If the organization has determined occupational health and safety to be a material topic, this subsection lists the disclosures identified as relevant for reporting on the topic by the agriculture,
aquaculture, and fishing sectors.
STANDARDDISCLOSURE

SECTOR
STANDARD
REF#

Management of the topic
GRI 3: Material
Topics 2021

Disclosure 3-3 Management of material topics
Additional sector recommendations
The following additional sector recommendation is fororganizations in the fishing sector:• Describe policies on maximum working hours andminimum hours of rest for workers on fishing vessels
and the approach to limiting worker fatigue.31

Topic Standard disclosures
GRI 403:
Occupational
Health and Safety
2018

Disclosure 403-1 Occupational health and safety
management system
Disclosure 403-2 Hazard identification, risk assessment,
and incident investigation
Disclosure 403-3 Occupational health services
Additional sector recommendations
The following additional sector recommendation is fororganizations in the fishing sector:• Describe any occupational health services’ functions
that specifically address the occupational health andsafety risks for workers aboard fishing vessels, including

31 The minimum hours of rest are set out in the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 188, ‘Work in

Fishing Convention’ [388].

Page 57 of 92

workers operating in high seas, and explain how theorganization facilitates workers’ access to these
services.
Disclosure 403-4 Worker participation, consultation, andcommunication on occupational health and safety
Disclosure 403-5 Worker training on occupational healthand safety
Disclosure 403-6 Promotion of worker health
Disclosure 403-7 Prevention and mitigation of occupational
health and safety impacts directly linked by business
relationships
Disclosure 403-8 Workers covered by an occupational
health and safety management system
Disclosure 403-9 Work-related injuries
Disclosure 403-10 Work-related ill health
1368

References and resources

1369
1370

GRI 403: Occupational Health and Safety 2018 lists authoritative intergovernmental instruments andadditional references relevant to reporting on this topic.

1371
1372
1373

The additional authoritative instruments and references used in developing this topic, as well as
resources that may be helpful for reporting on occupational health and safety by the agriculture,
aquaculture, and fishing sectors are listed in the Bibliography.

Page 58 of 92

1374

Topic 13.20 Employment practices

1375
1376
1377

Employment practices refer to an organization’s approach to job creation, terms of
employment and working conditions for its workers. This topic also covers the employment
and working conditions in an organization’s supply chain.

1378
1379
1380
1381

An employment relationship is a legal relationship between a worker and an organization that confers
rights and obligations to both parties. Informal employment is widespread in the agriculture,
aquaculture, and fishing sectors, with work performed not being registered. Globally, 94% of workers
in the agricultural sector are in informal employment [336].

1382
1383
1384

Informal workers do not have a secure employment contract and may be left without legal protectionand employment benefits; their working time and other terms of employment are not clearly defined.
Informal work also frequently goes undeclared, violating labor law and undermining tax collection.

1385
1386
1387
1388
1389
1390
1391

Where a formal employment relationship exists, a lack of transparency can still surround daily hours,
pay rates, and working conditions. For example, workers can face unjustified or nontransparent
deductions from their pay. Employers might withhold a portion of pay to cover various costs, such as
recruitment fees, food supplies and water, accommodation, taking leave to rest, or transferring
payments to workers’ families. In-kind payments, bonuses and piece rates are common forms ofcompensation. This can enhance productivity but may result in a lack of certainty around total
earnings and limit a worker’s buying power.

1392
1393
1394
1395
1396
1397
1398

Employment arrangements in these sectors and related supply chains can be complex and involve
many actors. Agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing organizations may rely on workers engaged
directly, through employment agencies, or by suppliers. Employers may classify workers they engage
as self-employed or engage workers through a third party to avoid a direct employment relationship.
Such situations are referred to as disguised employment and can lead to workers being denied theirdue benefits. Similar negative impacts occur when workers are employed via temporary or daily
contracts on an ongoing basis.

1399
1400
1401
1402
1403
1404
1405
1406

While employment agencies fulfill the sectors’ demands, documented cases show that fundamental
principles and rights at work are regularly violated where there is no due diligence on how theseagencies operate. Workers can face unjustified recruitment fees, unlawful employment conditions,and restrictions on terminating their engagement. Unethical employment and recruitment practices inthe sectors can also increase worker vulnerability and lead to exploitation. Fair or ethical recruitment
means hiring workers lawfully and in a fair, transparent manner that respects their dignity and humanrights (see references [329], [342], and [343] in the Bibliography). Ethical recruitment is characterized
by:

1407
1408
1409
1410
1411

•
•
•
•
•

recruitment fees being borne by the employer;
respect for freedom of movement;
transparent employment terms and conditions;confidentiality and data protection;access to remedy.

1412
1413
1414
1415

Migrant workers often fill the need for labor in agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing. Migrant status,
language, and communication barriers commonly leave migrant workers disadvantaged in terms of
remuneration, housing, and social and medical protection (see topic 13.15 Non-discrimination andequal opportunity).

1416

Box 5. Migrant workers

1417
1418
1419

Migrant workers can be particularly vulnerable to unethical labor practices and abuse. They are more
likely to face pay discrimination and less favorable employment terms because they depend on
employers or employment agencies for jobs and work permits.

1420
1421
1422
1423

Migrant workers can be made to pay a fee to access jobs in the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishingsectors and to hand over identity documents, which prevents them from leaving employers. Such
practices make migrant workers fall victim to bonded or forced or compulsory labor, labor exploitation,and human trafficking (see also topic 13.16 Forced or compulsory labor).

Page 59 of 92

1424
1425
1426
1427

International labor standards expect workers in the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors tohave decent conditions of work, including accommodations, food, transportation to and from theworkplace, and accident insurance, where applicable. For fishers, international labor and maritime
standards specify the right to repatriation in case of abandonment.

1428

Reporting on employment practices

1429
1430
1431

If the organization has determined employment practices to be a material topic, this sub-section lists
the disclosures identified as relevant for reporting on the topic by the agriculture, aquaculture, andfishing sectors.
STANDARDDISCLOSURE

SECTOR
STANDARD
REF#

Management of the topic
GRI 3: Material
Topics 2021

Disclosure 3-3 Management of material topics
Additional sector recommendations•

Describe policies or commitments regarding
recruitment of workers, including:-whether the organization has an ethicalrecruitment policy and, if so, a link to this policy if
publicly available;-

whether these policies and commitments cover
the approach to recruitment fees;-

whether there policies and commitments prohibit
the withholding of identity documents, such as
passports;-

whether under these policies workers areprovided with written contracts in a language
understood by the worker;-

whether these policies and commitments apply toemployment agencies used to recruit workers;-

how instances of non-compliance with thesepolicies and commitments are identified andaddressed.

• Describe the approach to worker compensation,
including:•-whether it is based on bonuses and piece rates,
and any deductions or withholdings fromcompensation;-

the approach to in-kind payments, including thepercentage of remuneration paid in kind at
significant locations of operation.

Describe actions taken to determine and address
situations where work undertaken within the supply

Page 60 of 92

chain does not take place within appropriate
institutional and legal frameworks, including: 32-

situations where persons working for suppliers are
not provided the social and labor protection thatthey are entitled to receive by national labor law;-

situations where working conditions in theorganization’s supply chain do not meetinternational labor standards or national labor law;-

situations of disguised employment relationships
where workers in the organization’s supply chain
are falsely considered to be self-employed orwhere there is no legally recognized employer;-

situations where work undertaken in theorganization’s supply chain is not subject tolegally recognized contracts.

1432

References and resources

1433
1434

GRI 401: Employment 2016 lists authoritative intergovernmental instruments relevant to reporting on
this topic.

1435
1436
1437

The additional authoritative instruments and references used in developing this topic, as well as
resources that may be helpful for reporting on employment practices by the agriculture, aquaculture,and fishing sectors are listed in the Bibliography.

32 These additional sector recommendations are based on clause 1.2 in GRI 401: Employment 2016.

Page 61 of 92

1438

Topic 13.21 Living income and living wage

1439
1440
1441
1442
1443

Living income and living wage refer to such level of income or wage which is sufficient toafford a decent standard of living for all household members, including nutritious food, cleanwater, housing, education, healthcare, and other essential needs, such as provision for
unexpected events. This topic covers the organization’s approach to worker compensation in
the context of whether it provides for living income or living wage.

1444
1445
1446
1447

As recognized by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, all workers have a right to just andfavorable remuneration that ensures an existence worthy of human dignity for themselves and theirfamilies. The lack of a decent standard of living can lead to poverty, malnutrition, and limited accessto basic services. Providing living income or living wage helps reduce inequality and in-work poverty.

1448
1449
1450
1451

Workers in agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing are more than four times more likely to be in poverty
than those in other sectors [356]. Ensuring living income or living wage for workers includes paying
self-employed farmers and fishers a fair price for their products or providing such remuneration for astandard workweek to waged workers that is sufficient to afford a decent standard of living.

1452
1453
1454
1455
1456
1457

A legally set minimum wage can sometimes be used as a proxy for a living wage. However, a living
wage is calculated based on requirements for a decent standard of living and can be higher than theminimum wage. In many countries, wage workers in the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors
fall outside of national minimum wage regulations or are subject to sector-specific minimum wage
rates that are lower than those applied to other categories of workers. A high spread of informal
employment in these sectors also poses a major barrier to the enforcement of wage norms.

1458
1459
1460
1461
1462
1463

Workers in agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing can be compensated in various ways, such as in-kindpayment of a share of their catch or harvest, or bonuses and piece rates, making them more
vulnerable to under-compensation (see topic 13.20 Employment practices). While international labor
standards do not set a specific threshold, the International Labour Organization (ILO) has questioned
whether a high proportion of wages, such as more than 50%, being paid in-kind is appropriate given
its potential to diminish workers’ financial income [351].

1464
1465
1466
1467
1468
1469

Many fishers and farmers are categorized as self-employed workers because they do not receive
wages but are compensated according to their production. Protections for this type of worker might
not exist, so their incomes may depend on the individuals’ negotiating power, production levels, andprices. However, prices may be subject to volatile or unfavorable market forces and can be set
without accounting for possible production losses due to weather events, plant and animal diseases,or other unforeseen circumstances that reduce production.

1470
1471
1472
1473
1474
1475
1476

Lack of living income or living wage can lead to negative impacts on the environment and people. For
example, a lack of living income can also be conducive to illegal clearing of forests or illicit farming or
fishing activities in an attempt to earn more. Farmers and fishers can also be pressed to cut
production costs by lowering their workers’ wages or relying on poor labor practices such as
exploitation, illegal migrant labor, or child labor. Lack of living income also limits the ability of
producers to invest in more efficient or sustainable production methods, which can further impact theiraccess to markets, income, and livelihoods (see topic 13.22 Economic inclusion).

1477

Reporting on living income and living wage

1478
1479
1480

If the organization has determined living income and living wage to be a material topic, this subsection lists the disclosures identified as relevant for reporting on the topic by the agriculture,
aquaculture, and fishing sectors.
STANDARDDISCLOSURE

SECTOR
STANDARDREF #Management of the topic

Page 62 of 92

GRI 3: Material
Topics 2021

Disclosure 3-3 Management of material topics
Additional sector recommendations• Describe commitments related to providing a living
income or paying a living wage.
• Describe the methodology used for defining living
income or living wage at significant locations ofoperation and report whether this has involved
consultation with and participation of local
stakeholders, including trade unions and employer
organizations.
• Describe how sourcing, pricing, and remuneration
policies take living income or living wage into account,
including how living income is considered when setting
product prices.
• Describe the tools and systems used to monitor
wages paid by suppliers.

Additional sector disclosures
Report the percentage of employees and workers who are not employees andwhose work is controlled covered by collective bargaining agreements that haveterms related to wage levels and frequency of wage payments at significant
locations of operation.
Report the percentage of employees and workers who are not employees andwhose work is controlled paid above living wage, with a breakdown by gender.
1481

References and resources

1482
1483
1484

The authoritative instruments and references used in developing this topic, as well as resources that
may be helpful for reporting on living income and living wage by the agriculture, aquaculture, andfishing sectors are listed in the Bibliography.

Page 63 of 92

1485

Topic 13.22 Economic inclusion

1486
1487
1488
1489

Economic inclusion concerns an organization’s impacts on access to economic opportunities
for local communities and the productive potential of actual and possible suppliers. This topic
covers an organization’s approach to economic inclusion of farmers and fishers, and theircommunities.

1490
1491
1492
1493
1494
1495
1496

Small-scale producers – farmers and fishers, who grow, harvest, and supply products to organizations– are key suppliers for the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors. There are 500 million
smallholder farmers in the agriculture sector, and in some regions, they produce up to 80% of all
agricultural products [364]. Similarly, small fishing vessels represent over 80% of the world’s totalfishing fleet [360], [370]. However, many of these farmers and fishers live in poor and rural areas,
where communities face economic and social exclusion due to inadequate infrastructure, lack oftechnology, limited production capacity, or limited access to markets and finance [368].

1497
1498
1499
1500
1501
1502

Farmers' and fishers' productivity and resilience can be strengthened by sustained demand, capitalprovision, skill-building, and enhanced access to markets. For example, contract farming – when an
organization enters into forwarding agreements to purchase products – can enhance farmers'
financial certainty and market access. Organizations may also commit to providing production inputs
as part of these agreements, such as seeds and fertilizers. However, contract farming agreements
need to be executed in a way to prevent debt or dependency.

1503
1504
1505
1506
1507

Agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing organizations can also contribute to the capacity of small-scale
producers by reducing barriers to market and connecting them to financial services and productive
assets. Organizations may also facilitate the formalization and development of business enterprises
by farmers and fishers. This includes assistance with registering land titles, business registration, andformal labor relations. Organizations can also encourage cooperatives that provide collective benefits.

1508
1509
1510
1511
1512

Economic inclusion can also be encouraged when organizations select suppliers by, for example,
prioritizing those owned by women or members of other vulnerable groups. Empowering women is a
key driver for economic inclusion in rural areas, as women are more likely to be in poverty and faceeconomic constraints at the individual or household levels (see topic 13.15 Non-discrimination andequal opportunity).

1513
1514
1515
1516
1517

The development of infrastructure that extends beyond the scope of the organization’s operations,such as roads, ports, or canals, can facilitate access to transportation, energy, sanitation, and otherservices in otherwise unserved areas. Organizations may also contribute to community investments
and stimulate economic activity in the local area, providing economic opportunities for those not activein the local economy.

1518
1519
1520

Empowering farmers and fishers can help them achieve high productivity and contribute to greater
food security, responding to current and future needs of sustainable food production (see topic 13.9
Food security).

1521

Reporting on economic inclusion

1522
1523
1524

If the organization has determined economic inclusion to be a material topic, this sub-section lists thedisclosures identified as relevant for reporting on the topic by the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishingsectors.
STANDARDDISCLOSURE

SECTOR
STANDARDREF #Management of the topic
GRI 3: Material
Topics 2021

Disclosure 3-3 Management of material topics
Additional sector recommendations•

Describe actions taken to support the economic inclusionof farmers and fishers, and their communities (e.g., direct
support through investments, partnerships, or training) andPage 64 of 92

the effectiveness of these actions (e.g., increased yields or
productivity, number of farmers or fishers reached,
percentage of products sourced from small producers).
•

Describe actions taken to identify and adjust the sourcing
practices of the organization that cause or contribute tonegative impacts on economic inclusion of farmers andfishers in the supply chain.33

Topic Standard disclosures
GRI 201:
Economic
Performance
2016

Disclosure 201-1 Direct economic value generated anddistributed

GRI 203: Indirect
Economic
Impacts 2016

Disclosure 203-1 Infrastructure investments and services
supported
Disclosure 203-2 Significant indirect economic impacts

1525

References and resources

1526
1527

GRI 201: Economic Performance 2016 lists authoritative intergovernmental instruments andadditional references relevant to reporting on this topic.

1528
1529
1530

The additional authoritative instruments and references used in developing this topic, as well as
resources that may be helpful for reporting on economic inclusion by the agriculture, aquaculture, andfishing sectors are listed in the Bibliography.

33 These additional sector recommendations are based on the guidance to clause 1.1 in GRI 204: Procurement

Practices 2016.

Page 65 of 92

1531

Topic 13.23 Supply chain traceability

1532
1533
1534
1535

Traceability is the ability to trace the source, origin, or production conditions of raw materials
and final products. Traceability provides a way to identify and prevent potential negative
impacts linked to an organization’s products. This topic covers an organization’s approach tosupply chain traceability.

1536
1537
1538
1539
1540
1541

Agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing organizations may source their products and procure inputs,
such as animal feed, from multiple farms, mills, plantations, waters, or hatcheries. Production
conditions can differ highly across countries. The sectors’ supply chains can be complex, crossing
international borders and aggregating products from multiple locations. Products can be associatedwith diverse negative impacts on the economy, environment, and people and involve informal
operations, where impacts often go undocumented.

1542
1543
1544
1545

Traceability mechanisms enable organizations to identify the origins of their products and actors intheir supply chain. These mechanisms can help localize and withdraw non-conforming products. For
example, traceability allows for urgent product recalls over food safety concerns and outbreaks of
disease in animals.

1546
1547
1548
1549
1550
1551

Feed traceability in animal production and aquaculture is a key concern. The sourcing of animal andfish feed can contribute to negative impacts on biodiversity and natural ecosystems. Aquaculture feed
can rely on depleted fish stocks, further driving overfishing (see topic 13.3 Biodiversity). Plant-based
feed can be associated with natural ecosystem conversion. For example, almost 80% of the world’ssoybean crop is used as animal feed and soybean farming is associated with deforestation in many
areas [379] (see topic 13.4 Natural ecosystem conversion).

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In the fishing sector, traceability mechanisms serve to ensure fishery resources' sustainability and thelegality of fishing operations. Identifying the source of fishing products requires increased scrutiny
because of the transshipment of catch, re-exportation, and numerous processing stages.

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Box 6. Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing

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Some estimates indicate that globally up to 30% of sourced fish comes from IUU fishing, which
includes fishing without a license, exceeding fishing quotas, capturing undersized fish or endangered
species, and using unauthorized fishing gear [377]. It also includes fishing in restricted or protectedmarine areas or inshore waters reserved for local fishers and unauthorized transfer of catch from one
vessel to another.

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IUU fishing is a threat to marine ecosystems and biodiversity because of its potential impacts on thesustainability of fishing stocks. Traceability mechanisms are a fundamental tool against IUU fishing.
Certified fisheries, fisheries improvement projects 34, or robust monitoring, control, and surveillance(MCS) measures can also provide some level of assurance against IUU fishing.

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Traceability can also facilitate the transparency of value created at each stage of the value chain andhow the value is distributed among producers. This information is relevant for establishing purchasing
prices for agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing products that provide for living income or living wage toworkers, farmers, and fishers (see also topic 13.21 Living income and living wage).

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Tracing the origins of products can be challenging, and traceability across the agriculture,
aquaculture, and fishing sectors is unevenly implemented. Organizations that source agriculture,
aquaculture, or fishing products might, depending on the product, be able to trace each to its source
or a specific geographic area. Suppliers may also have certifications and assurance schemes by third

34

Improvement projects focus on improving production practices and the way impacts on species andecosystems are managed. Improvement projects are often undertaken with the intention of undergoing anassessment as part of a certification process that ensures conformity with certain environmental, economic, andsocial performance standards in the future.

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parties that link their products to production sites upholding certain environmental, economic, andsocial performance standards.

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Reporting on supply chain traceability

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If the organization has determined supply chain traceability to be a material topic, this sub-section lists
the disclosures identified as relevant for reporting on the topic by the agriculture, aquaculture, andfishing sectors.
STANDARDDISCLOSURE

SECTOR
STANDARD REF#

Management of the topic
GRI 3: Material
Topics 2021

Disclosure 3-3 Management of material topics
Additional sector recommendations•

Describe the rationale and methodology for tracing thesource, origin, or production conditions of the products
sourced by the organization (such as raw materials andproduction inputs purchased).35
The following additional sector recommendations are fororganizations in the fishing sector:••

Describe policies, assurance schemes, and risk
assessment processes related to illegal, unreported,and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
List initiatives and partnerships intended to help
address illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU)
fishing that the organization participates in.

Additional sector disclosures
Describe the level of traceability in place for each product sourced, for example,
whether the product can be traced to the national, regional, or local level, or a
specific point of origin (e.g., farms, hatcheries, and feed mill levels). 36
Report the percentage of sourced volume37 certified to internationally recognized
standards that trace the path of products through the supply chain, by productand list these standards.38

35 This additional sector recommendation is based on the guidance to clause 1.1 in GRI 204: Procurement

Practices 2016.
36 A description of the organization’s supply chain is reported under Disclosure 2-6 Activities, value chain andother business relationships in GRI 2: General Disclosures 2021.
37 Sourced volume refers to the total volume of products sourced by the organization from suppliers.
38 Certifications or standards that trace the path of products through the supply chain are sometimes referred toas chain of custody (CoC). CoC is the chronological documentation or document trail that records the sequenceof custody, control, transfer, analysis, and disposition of products.

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Describe improvement projects to get suppliers certified to internationallyrecognized standards that trace the path of products through the supply chain toensure that all sourced volume is certified.
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References and resources

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The references used in developing this topic, as well as resources that may be helpful for reporting on
supply chain traceability by the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors are listed in the
Bibliography.

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1583

Topic 13.24 Public policy

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An organization can participate in public policy development, directly or through anintermediary organization, by means of lobbying or making financial or in-kind contributions
to political parties, politicians, or causes. While an organization can encourage public policy
development that benefits society, participation can also be associated with corruption,bribery, undue influence, or an imbalanced representation of the organization’s interests. This
topic covers an organization’s approach to public policy advocacy and the impacts that can
result from an organization's influence.

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Agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing organizations can potentially influence local, national, orinternational policy concerning environmental regulations, access to natural resources, labor laws,
food safety, public health, and animal welfare.

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1600

Advocacy or lobbying by the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors may target policies that limit
the sectors' environmental impact; government price setting and subsidies; or mandatory quotas on
products. In agriculture, documented cases show that large agricultural organizations advocated forpostponing legal requirements for rotating crops and avoiding penalties for inadequate land use.
Agriculture lobby activities can also target approvals of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) andobjectives to decrease the use of pesticides, fertilizers, and animal antibiotics. Lobbying can also
affect farmers’ access to technology and genetic resources, such as seeds.

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In animal production, lobbying can inhibit public policy development that deals with livestock’s
negative impacts on the environment. Livestock products – particularly dairy and beef – are heavily
subsidized in many countries due to livestock organizations' influence. Subsidies enabled expressly
through lobbying can facilitate the supply of animal products at prices that do not cover the costs tothe environment. Lobbying can also prevent stricter standards of animal welfare.

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In fishing, organizations can influence allowable catch and quota regulations, including international
trade negotiations and inter-country agreements on fishing quotas. Locally, lobbying can sway
attempts to limit catch in order to preserve fishing stocks (see also topic 13.26 Anti-corruption).

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Reporting on public policy

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If the organization has determined public policy to be a material topic, this sub-section lists thedisclosures identified as relevant for reporting on the topic by the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishingsectors.
STANDARDDISCLOSURE

SECTOR
STANDARD REF #Management of the topic
GRI 3: Material
Topics 2021

Disclosure 3-3 Management of material topics

Topic Standard disclosures
GRI 415: Public
Policy 2016

Disclosure 415-1 Political contributions

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References and resources

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GRI 415: Public Policy 2016 lists authoritative intergovernmental instruments relevant to reporting on
this topic.
The additional references used in developing this topic, as well as resources that may be helpful forreporting on public policy by the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors are listed in the
Bibliography.

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Topic 13.25 Anti-competitive behavior

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Anti-competitive behavior refers to actions by an organization that can result in collusion withpotential competitors, abuse of dominant market position or exclusion of potential
competitors, thereby limiting the effects of market competition. This can include fixing prices
or coordinating bids, creating market or output restrictions, imposing geographic quotas, andallocating customers, suppliers, geographic areas, or product lines. This topic covers impacts
as a result of anti-competitive behavior.

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Many agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing products are purchased from producers and traded by alimited number of organizations. In situations of limited market options, traders and buyers can exert
significant market power.

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Anti-competitive agreements between agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing organizations can lead topurchasing prices for products being set below those in a competitive market and restrictions on the
product volumes. Many producers in these sectors are smallholder farmers and small-scale fishers,
often working in the informal sector and facing substantial barriers to accessing markets (see also
topic 13.22 Economic inclusion). Large organizations that source supplies from small producers cantake advantage of information asymmetry and market fragmentation to limit their choices of whom tosupply.

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Anti-competitive practices may render small producers in these sectors unable to cover their costs,
achieve living income, or pay wages to their workers, resulting in economic exclusion and risk tolivelihoods (see 13.21 Living income and living wage). Other actions that purposely limit the effects ofmarket competition can also cause small producers to lose their independence and be pressured into
becoming subsidiaries of large multinational organizations. In some parts of the sectors, cartels havecaused the exclusion of small producers from international markets.

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Large cooperatives, commonly found in the sectors, can affect market competition by requiring
farmers and fishers to sell their products exclusively through them. While such arrangements canbenefit producers, they can also pose anti-competitive concerns by limiting consumers’ choices incases where they represent a major share of the sector’s productive capacity.

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Reporting on anti-competitive behavior

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If the organization has determined anti-competitive behavior to be a material topic, this sub-section
lists the disclosures identified as relevant for reporting on the topic by the agriculture, aquaculture,and fishing sectors.
STANDARDDISCLOSURE

SECTOR
STANDARDREF #Management of the topic
GRI 3: Material
Topics 2021

Disclosure 3-3 Management of material topics

Topic Standard Disclosures
GRI 206: Anticompetitive
Behavior 2016

Disclosure 206-1 Legal actions for anti-competitive behavior,anti-trust, and monopoly practices

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References and resources

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GRI 206: Anti-competitive Behavior 2016 lists authoritative intergovernmental instruments.
The additional references used in developing this topic, as well as resources that may be helpful forreporting on anti-competitive behavior by the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors are listed in
the Bibliography.

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Topic 13.26 Anti-corruption

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Anti-corruption refers to how an organization manages the potential of being involved withcorruption. Corruption is practices such as bribery, facilitation payments, fraud, extortion,collusion, money laundering, or the offer or receipt of an inducement to do something
dishonest or illegal. This topic covers the potential for corruption to occur and the related
impacts.

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Corruption in the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors can erode the capacity of governments
to limit practices, such as deforestation and overfishing. Corruption also increases the likelihood of
potential negative impacts on workers and communities and reduces government revenues.
Organizations that engage in corruption can have an unfair advantage in competitive markets.

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In the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors, corruption may be related to the use of land andother natural resources regulated by government agencies. It can take the form of, for example,
bribes paid to officials to register land, acquire land information, or obtain permits to establish an
operation. This can affect rightsholders and lead to the displacement of communities, particularly inareas without secure land tenure (see also topic 13.13 Land and resource rights).

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Other forms of corruption can also involve the undue benefit from political reforms and landtransactions, such as privatizing state-owned land, approving zoning plans, and land expropriation.
These practices often ignore legal mechanisms and cause impacts on people and the environment.

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Corruption in the sectors may include inducing officials to ignore illegal farming or fishing operations,leading to the loss of natural ecosystems when land is cleared. Corrupt practices in fishing canfacilitate access agreements between organizations and officials managing fishing resources, which
potentially result in unsustainable levels of fishing.

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Corrupt practices can also allow for illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUU) and exceeding
quotas, undermining stocks' sustainability. Fishers themselves might be involved in corruption toincrease catch quantities. Records of type or volume of catch may be falsified, or authorities may bebribed to ignore or certify false records.

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Operating fishing vessels under a flag of convenience or an unknown flag can also be associated withcorruption when intended to bypass countries’ legal restrictions.

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Reporting on anti-corruption

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If the organization has determined anti-corruption to be a material topic, this sub-section lists thedisclosures identified as relevant for reporting on the topic by the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishingsectors.
STANDARDDISCLOSURE

SECTOR
STANDARD REF#

Management of the topic
GRI 3: Material
Topics 2021

Disclosure 3-3 Management of material topics

Topic Standard disclosures
GRI 205: Anticorruption 2016

Disclosure 205-1 Operations assessed for risks related tocorruption
Disclosure 205-2 Communication and training about anticorruption policies and procedures
Disclosure 205-3 Confirmed incidents of corruption andactions taken

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References and resources

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GRI 205: Anti-corruption 2016 lists authoritative intergovernmental instruments and additionalreferences relevant to reporting on this topic.
The additional references used in developing this topic, as well as resources that may be helpful forreporting on anti-corruption by the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors are listed in the
Bibliography.

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Glossary

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This glossary provides definitions for terms used in this Standard. The organization is required toapply these definitions when using the GRI Standards.

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The definitions included in this glossary may contain terms that are further defined in the complete
GRI Standards Glossary. All defined terms are underlined. If a term is not defined in this glossary or in
the complete GRI Standards Glossary, definitions that are commonly used and understood apply.

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area of high biodiversity value
area protectedbasic salarybenefitbusiness partner
business relationships
carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent
catchmentchildclose callcollective bargaining
corruption
direct (Scope 1) GHG emissions
discharge
discrimination
disposal
effluent
employeeenergy indirect (scope 2) GHG emissions
exposure
forced or compulsory labor
freedom of association
freshwater
governance bodygreenhouse gas (GHG)
grievance mechanism
groundwater
hazardous waste
human rights
impactindigenous peoples
infrastructure
local community
material topics
mitigation
other indirect (scope 3) GHG emissions
product
remedy / remediation
recoveryremunerationrightsholder
runoffseverity (of an impact)
stakeholder
supplier

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supply chain
surface water
sustainable development/sustainability
value chain
vulnerable groupwaste
water consumption
water withdrawal
workerwork-related hazard
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Bibliography

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In addition to the authoritative intergovernmental instruments and other sources listed in GRI Topic
Standards, the following have been used in developing the content of this Sector Standard.

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Introduction

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1.

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Sector profile

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Authoritative instruments:
7. United Nations General Assembly, Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 25
September 2015. Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, 2015
(A/RES/70/1).

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1800
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1802
1803
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Additional references:
8. Business for Social Responsibility, P. Nestor, Four Human Rights Issues Every Food andAgriculture Company Needs to Understand, 2013
9. Climate Watch, Historical GHG Emissions, accessed 4 February 2021.
10. European Commission, DG Maritime Affairs and Fisheries – Energy Efficiency, accessed 26 April
2022.
11. Farm Animal Investment Risk & Return (FAIRR) Initiative, Factory Farming: Assessing
Investment Risks, 2016.
12. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Codex Alimentarius and Antimicrobial Resistance,
accessed 4 February 2021.
13. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Inclusive Business Models, 2015.
14. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Increasing the Resilience of Agriculture Livelihoods,
2016.
15. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Migration, Agriculture and Climate change – Reducing
vulnerabilities and enhancing resilience, 2017.
16. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Post-harvest processing, accessed 9 February 2021.
17. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Storage, accessed 9 February 2021.
18. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Sustainability Pathways: Smallholders and Family
Farmers, 2012.
19. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), The Right to Food, accessed 4 February 2021.
20. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Food and Agriculture: Statistical Yearbook
2021, 2021.
21. International Labour Organization (ILO) and Walk Free Foundation, Global Estimates of Modern
Slavery, 2017.
22. International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), Voluntary Sustainability Standards
and Biodiversity: Understanding the potential of agricultural standards for biodiversity protection,
2018.
23. International Labour Organization (ILO), Child labor in agriculture, accessed 4 February 2021.

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

European Communities, NACE Rev.2, Statistical classification of economic activities in theEuropean Community (NACE), Eurostat, Methodologies and Working Papers, 2008.
Executive Office of the President, Office of Management and Budget, North American Industry
Classification System (NAICS),FTSE Russell, ICB Structure. Taxonomy Overview, 2019.
S&P Dow Jones Indices and MSCI Inc., Revisions to the Global Industry Classification Standard(GICS®) Structure, 2018.
Sustainable Accounting Standards Boards (SASB), Sustainable Industry Classification System®
(SICS®),org/find-your-industry/, accessed on 27 May 2021.
United Nations, International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities,
Revision 4, Statistical Papers Series M No. 4/Rev.4, 2008.

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1821
1822
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1825
1826
1827
1828
1829
1830
1831
1832

24. International Panel on Climate Change, Climate Change 2014: Mitigation of Climate Change,
2014.
25. International Panel on Climate Change, Sixth Assessment Report, Climate Change 2022:
Mitigation of Climate Change, the Working Group III contribution, 2022.
26. Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, Global
assessment report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services: Summary for policymakers, 2019.
27. North Sea Foundation, Seas at risk – The carbon footprint of fisheries, 2007.
28. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Issues in focus: Right toFood, accessed 4 February 2021.
29. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Pesticides are ‘global humanrights concern’, say UN experts urging new treaty, 2017.
30. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO), Agricultural Outlook 2021-2030, 2021.
31. United Nations (UN), Land and Human Rights, accessed 4 February 2021.
32. United Nations (UN) Press Release GA/EF/3521, Rural Population ‘Left Behind’ by Uneven
Global Economy, Speakers Note, as Second Committee Debates Poverty Eradication, 2019.
33. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions Data,
webpage.
34. W. Willett, J. Rockström, B. Loken, et al., ‘Food in the Anthropocene: the EAT–Lancet
Commission on healthy diets from sustainable food systems’, The Lancet, vol. 393 (10170), pp.
447-492, 2019.
35. World Bank Blogs, T. Khokhar, the Data Blog, 2017; data based on World Bank Indicators,
accessed 4 February 2021.
36. World Bank Group, Environmental, Health, and Safety General Guideline for Annual Crop
Production, 2016.
37. World Bank Group, Growing the Rural Nonfarm Economy to Alleviate Poverty, 2017.
38. World Bank Group, The Changing Nature of Work, 2019.
39. World Trade Organization (WTO), Agriculture: fairer markets for farmers, accessed 4 February
2021.

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Resources:
40. GRI, Linking the SDGs and the GRI Standards, updated regularly.
41. GRI and UN Global Compact, Integrating the SDGs into corporate reporting: A practical guide,
2018.

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Topic 13.1 Emissions

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Authoritative instruments:

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42. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Paris Agreement, 2015.

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Additional references:
43. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Committee on Fisheries, the Use of Best Available
Science in Developing and Promoting Best Practices for Trawl Fishing Operations, 2018.
44. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Livestock’s long shadow: environmental issues andoptions, 2006.
45. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), ‘Transport’, Climate Change 2014:
Mitigation of Climate Change, 2014.
46. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Special Report on Climate Change andLand, 2019.
47. Sala, E., Mayorga, J., Bradley, D. et al., Nature, Protecting the global ocean for biodiversity, foodand climate, 2021.

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Resources:

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48. World Resources Institute (WRI) and World Business Council for Sustainable Development(WBCSD), GHG Protocol Agricultural Guidance, 2014.

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Topic 13.2 Climate adaptation and resilience

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Additional references:

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1866

49.
50.
51.
52.
53.

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Resources:

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56. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Climate Change and Land, 2019.
57. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Working Group 3, AR5 Climate Change
2014: Mitigation of Climate Change, Chapter 14: Needs and Options.

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Topic 13.3 Biodiversity

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Authoritative instruments:

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58. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Agreement to promote Compliance with International
Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas, 1995.
59. United Nations (UN) Convention, ‘Convention on the Law of the Sea’, 1982.
60. United Nations (UN), Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation andManagement of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, 1995.

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Additional references:

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1900
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61. European Commission, Global Soil Biodiversity Atlas, 2015.
62. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 6 ways indigenous peoples are helping the world
achieve #ZeroHunger, 2017.
63. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), FAO's Global Action on Pollination Services for
Sustainable Agriculture, accessed 14 February 2022.
64. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Fish as feed inputs for aquaculture – practices,sustainability and implications: a global synthesis, 2009.
65. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Sustainable Development Goals: Indicator 14.4.1 Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels, accessed 29 January 2021.
66. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), The First Global Integrated Marine Assessment,
chapter 11, p. 5, 2016.
67. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), The State of the World's Biodiversity for Food andAgriculture, 2019.
68. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture, 2020.
69. Global Ghost Gear Initiative, accessed 29 January 2021.
70. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), The Use of Wild Fish as Aquaculture Feed and its
Effects on Income and Food for the Poor and the Undernourished, 2008.
71. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Why bees matter? The importance of bees and otherpollinators for food and agriculture, 2018.
72. Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, Global
Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, 2019.
73. International Union for Conservation of Nature, Threats Classification Scheme, accessed 29
January 2021.

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture, 2018.
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), The State of Food and Agriculture, 2016.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Food security, 2019.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Climate Change and Land, 2019.
M. Parry, C. Rosenzweig, M. Livermore, Climate change, global food supply and risk of hunger,
vol. 360, 2005.
54. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Indigenous Peoples, Climate change,
accessed 29 January 2021.
55. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Intergovernmental
Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), Knowing our Lands and Resources
Indigenous and Local Knowledge of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Africa, 2015

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74. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Impact of “Ghost Fishing“ via Derelict FishingGear, 2015.
75. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Indigenous Peoples: The unsung heroes ofconservation, 201776. United Nations, ‘Convention on Biological Conservation’, 5th edition of Global Biodiversity
Outlook – Local Biodiversity Outlooks 2 supplement, 2020.

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Resources:

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1911
1912
1913

77. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), The State of the World’s Biodiversity for Food andAgriculture, 2019.
78. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), The Sustainability Assessment of Food andAgriculture systems, 2019.

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Topic 13.4 Natural ecosystem conversion

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Authoritative instruments:

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79. United Nations (UN) Convention, ‘Convention on Biological Diversity’, 1992.
80. United Nations (UN) Convention, ‘Convention to Combat Desertification’ (UNCCD). 1994.
81. United Nations (UN) Convention, ‘Framework Convention on Climate Change’ (UNFCCC), 1992.

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Additional references:

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1930
1931
1932
1933
1934

82. Accountability Framework Initiative, Terms and Definitions, 2020.
83. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Committee on Fisheries, the Use of Best Available
Science in Developing and Promoting Best Practices for Trawl Fishing Operations, 2018.
84. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Landscape approaches: key concepts, webpage.
85. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Zero deforestation initiatives and their impacts oncommodity supply chains: Discussion paper prepared for the 57th Session of the FAO Advisory
Committee on Sustainable Forest-based Industries, 2018.
86. Global Forest Watch, Global Dashboard, accessed 29 January 2021.
87. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Climate Change and Land, 2019.
88. Proforest, Landscape initiatives, webpage.
89. United Nations System of Environmental-Economic Accounting, Ecosystem conversions,accessed 29 January 2021.
90. United Nations, General Assembly Resolution 71/285: United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests
2017–2030 A/RES/71/285, 2017.
91. World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF), Deforestation and Conversion Free Supply Chains, 2021.

1935

Resources:

1936
1937
1938
1939
1940

92. Accountability Framework Initiative, Operational Guidance on Applying the Definitions Related toDeforestation, Conversion, and Protection of Ecosystems, 2019.
93. Accountability Framework Initiative (AFI), Operational Guidance on Cutoff Dates, 2019.
94. Consumer Goods Forum (CGF), Zero Net Deforestation Resolution and Commitments.
95. New York Declaration on Forests, 2017.

1941

Topic 13.5 Soil health1942

Authoritative instruments:

1943
1944

96. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Code of Conduct for the sustainable use
and management of fertilizers, 2019.

1945

Additional references:

1946
1947
1948

97. European Commission, Global Soil Biodiversity Atlas, 2015.
98. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Intergovernmental Technical Panel, Status of theWorld’s Soil Resources (SWSR): Technical Summary, 2015.

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1949
1950
1951
1952

99. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Atomic Energy Agency, Guidelines for
Using Fallout Radionuclides to Assess Erosion and Effectiveness of Soil Conservation
Strategies, 2014.
100. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Methodological note to SDG Indicator 2.4.1 Proportionof Agricultural Area under Productive and Sustainable Agriculture, 2020.
101. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Climate Change and Land, 2019.
102. World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF), Soil Erosion and Degradation, 2019.

1953

Resources:

1954
1955

103. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Voluntary Guidelines on Sustainable Soil
Management, 2017.

1956

Topic 13.6 Pesticides use

1957

Authoritative instruments:

1958
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968

104. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO), International
Code of Conduct on Pesticide Management, 2014.
105. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO), International
Code of Conduct on Pesticide Management Guidelines on Highly Hazardous Pesticides, 2016.
106. International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention 184 ‘Safety and Health in Agriculture
Convention’, 2001.
107. United Nations (UN) Convention, ‘Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary
Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal’, 1989.
108. United Nations (UN) Convention, ‘Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent (PIC)
Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade’, 1998.
109. United Nations (UN) Convention, ‘Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants’, 2001.

1969

Additional references:

1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976

110. M. W. Aktar, D. Sengupta, A. Chowdhury, Impact of pesticides use in agriculture: their benefits
and hazards, Interdisciplinary Toxicology. vol. 2 (1), 2009.
111. S. J. Moe, D. Ø. Hjermann, E. Ravagnan, R. K. Bechmann, Effects of an aquaculture pesticide(diflubenzuron) on non-target shrimp populations: Extrapolation from laboratory experiments to
the risk of population decline, Ecological Modelling, vol. 413, 2019.
112. Safe Drinking Water Foundation, Pesticides and Water Pollution, accessed 9 February 2021.
113. World Health Organization (WHO), Pesticide residues in food, 2018.

1977

Resources:

1978
1979
1980
1981
1982

114. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Integrated Pest Management, accessed 9 February
2021.
115. Rainforest Alliance, Integrated Pest Management and Natural Farming Solutions, 2020.
116. World Health Organization, The WHO Recommended Classification of Pesticides by Hazard andGuidelines to Classification, 2019.

1983

Topic 13.7 Water and effluents

1984

Authoritative instruments:

1985
1986

117. International Maritime Organization (IMO), Protocol of 1978 relating to the International
Convention for the prevention of pollution from ships, 1973, 1978

1987

Additional references:

1988
1989
1990

118. European Commission, Science for Environment Policy, 2015.
119. Global Aquaculture Alliance, What Is the Environmental Impact of Aquaculture?, 2019.
120. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Climate Change and Land, 2019.

Page 79 of 92

1991
1992
1993

121. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Agriculture and water policychanges: Stocktaking and alignment with OECD and G20 recommendations, 2020.
122. World Bank, Water in Agriculture, 2020.

1994

Resources:

1995
1996
1997
1998

123. International Maritime Organization (IMO), Resolution MEPC.295(71) ‘2017 Guidelines for the
Implementation of MARPOL Annex V’, 2017.
124. International Maritime Organization (IMO), Simplified overview of the discharge provisions of therevised MARPOL Annex V which entered into force on 1 March 2018.

1999

Topic 13.8 Waste

2000

Authoritative instruments:

2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006

125. International Maritime Organization (IMO), Resolution MEPC.295(71) ‘2017 Guidelines for the
Implementation of MARPOL Annex V’, 2017.
126. International Maritime Organization (IMO), Simplified overview of the discharge provisions of therevised MARPOL Annex V which entered into force on 1 March 2018.
127. International Maritime Organization (IMO), Protocol of 1978 relating to the International
Convention for the prevention of pollution from ships, 1973, 1978.

2007

Additional references:

2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018

128. Aquaculture Stewardship Council, Marine Litter and Aquaculture Gear, 2019.
129. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear,
2009.
130. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Nitrogen inputs to agricultural soils from livestock
manure, 2018.
131. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), The State of Food and Agriculture 2019 – Moving
forward on food Loss and waste reduction, 2019.
132. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Utilization and trade, accessed 29 January 2021.
133. Global Aquaculture Alliance, For the future, a feed that makes fish feces float?, 2017.
134. J. Nwakaire, F. O. Obi, B. Ugwuishiwu, Agricultural waste concept, generation, utilization andmanagement, 2016. Nigerian Journal of Technology (NIJOTECH) vol. 35 (4), pp. 957-964, 2016.

2019

Resources:

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

135. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Technical Platform on the Measurement andReduction of Food Loss and Waste, accessed 9 February 2021.
136. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), SDG 12.3.1: Global Food Loss Index, 2018.
137. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), World Health Organization (WHO), Food andAgriculture Organization (FAO), Guidelines for the management of small quantities of unwanted
and obsolete pesticides, 1999.

2026

Topic 13.9 Food security

2027

Authoritative instruments:

2028
2029
2030
2031

138. Committee on World Food Security, Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture andFood Systems, 2014.
139. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Voluntary Guidelines on the Progressive Realization of
the Right to Adequate Food in the Context of National Food Security, 2005.

2032

Additional references:

2033
2034
2035
2036

140. Committee on Food Security, Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture for Food Security andNutrition, 2014.
141. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Biofuels: prospects, risks and opportunities, webpage.
142. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Land use in agriculture by the numbers, 2020.

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2037
2038
2039
2040
2041
2042
2043
2044
2045
2046
2047
2048
2049
2050
2051
2052
2053
2054
2055
2056
2057
2058
2059
2060
2061
2062
2063
2064

143. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Defining Organic Agriculture, accessed 9 February
2021.
144. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Save and Grow in practice: maize, rice, wheat. A
guide to Sustainable Cereal Production, 2016.
145. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), The State of Food and Agriculture 2020 - Moving
Forward on Food Loss and Waste Reduction, 2020.
146. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World
2020, 2020.
147. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), The State of World Food Security and Nutrition in theWorld 2019, 2019.
148. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Transforming Food and Agriculture to Achieve theSDGs, 2018.
149. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Fisheries and Aquaculture - Utilization and trade –Fish utilization, accessed on 16 February 2022.
150. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Agriculture: Towards 2015/2030 - An FAO
perspective, Crop production and natural resource use, 2003.
151. High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition of the Committee on World Food
Security, Food security and nutrition: building a global narrative towards 2030, 2020.
152. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Climate Change and Land, 2019.
153. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Annual Report 5 Climate Change 2013:
The Physical Science Basis – Chapter 11 Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU),
2013.
154. T. Cashion, F. Le Manach, D. Zeller, D. Pauly, Fish and Fisheries, Most fish destined for fishmeal
production are food-grade fish, 2017. DOI:10.1111/faf.12209.
155. The EAT-Lancet Commission, Summary Report of the EAT-Lancet Commission: Healthy Dietsfrom Sustainable Food Systems, 2019.
156. World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), Taking action on nutrition:
Addressing the nutrition deficit in agricultural supply chains, 2019.

2065

Resources:

2066
2067
2068
2069

157. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), SDG 12.3.1: Global Food Loss Index, Methodology formonitoring SDG Target 12.3, 2018.
158. World Resources Institute (WRI), Food Loss and Waste Accounting and Reporting Standard,
2016.

2070

Topic 13.10 Food safety

2071

Additional references:

2072
2073
2074
2075
2076
2077
2078
2079
2080
2081
2082

159. Organization for economic cooperation and development (OECD), Antimicrobial resistance andagriculture, accessed 9 February 2021.
160. S. Washington and L. Ababouch, Private standards and certification in fisheries and aquaculture:
Current practice and emerging issues, 2011.
161. The EAT-Lancet Commission, Summary Report of the EAT-LANCET Commission: Healthy Dietsfrom Sustainable Food Systems, 2019.
162. World Health Organization (WHO), Antimicrobial resistance in the food chain. 2017.
163. World Health Organization (WHO), Food safety, 2020
164. World Health Organization (WHO), Preventing food safety emergencies (INFOSAN), 2017.
165. World Health Organization (WHO), Foodborne Disease Burden Epidemiology Reference Group
2007-2015, 2015.

2083

Resources:

2084
2085

166. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Codex Alimentarius, International Food Standards,
accessed 9 February 2021.

Page 81 of 92

2086

Topic 13.11 Animal health and welfare

2087

Authoritative instruments:

2088
2089

167. World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), Aquatic Animal Health Code, 2019.
168. World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), Terrestrial Animal Health Code, 2021.

2090

Additional references:

2091
2092
2093
2094
2095
2096
2097
2098
2099
2100
2101
2102
2103
2104
2105
2106
2107
2108
2109
2110
2111
2112

169. Committee on World Food Security, Sustainable agricultural development for food security andnutrition: What roles for livestock?, 2016.
170. Farm Animal Welfare Education Centre, What is animal welfare?, 2012.
171. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2020,2020.
172. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Livestock’s Long Shadow: Environmental Issues andOptions. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2006.
173. European Commission, Welfare of farmed fish: Common practices during transport and at
slaughter, 2017.
174. Lines JA, Spence J., Rev. sci. tech. Off. int. Epiz., 2014, 33 (1), 255-264, Humane harvestingand slaughter of farmed fish, 2014.
175. National Farm Animal Care Council of Canada, Code of practice for the care and handling ofbeef cattle, 2013.
176. Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, What is animal hoarding and why is it
harmful to animals?, 2020.
177. World Economic Forum, This is how many animals we eat each year, 2019, accessed 19
February 2022.
178. World Health Organization (WHO), Antimicrobial resistance in the food chain, 2017.
179. World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), What is animal welfare?, accessed 9 February
2021.
180. World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), Terrestrial Animal Health Code, Chapter 6.1
Introduction to Recommendations for Veterinary Public Health, 2019.

2113

Topic 13.12 Local communities

2114

Authoritative instruments:

2115
2116

181. United Nations (UN) Declaration, ‘Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People’,
2018.

2117

Additional references:

2118
2119
2120
2121
2122
2123
2124
2125
2126
2127
2128
2129
2130
2131
2132
2133
2134

182. European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), Gender in agriculture and rural development,
2017.
183. International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), Private Investments and Agriculture:
The importance of integrating sustainability into planning and implementation, 2016.
184. International Labour Organization (ILO) and United Nations Conference on Trade andDevelopment, Shared Harvests: Agriculture, Trade and Employment, 2013.
185. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), FAO Social Protection Framework: Promoting ruraldevelopment for all, 2017.
186. Marine Stewardship Council, The impact on communities, accessed 9 February 2021.
187. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Pesticides are ‘global humanrights concern’, say UN experts urging new treaty, 2017.
188. S. Wing, R. A. Horton, and S. W. Marshall, et al., Air Pollution and Odor in Communities Near
Industrial Swine Operations, Environmental Health Perspectives vol. 116 (10), pp. 1362-1368,
2008.
189. WHO estimates that worldwide exposure to pesticides causes an annual 20,000 deaths and at
least 3 million cases of acute poisoning. World Health Organization, Acute pesticide poisoning: aproposed classification tool, 2008.

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2135

Topic 13.13 Land and resource rights

2136

Authoritative instruments:

2137
2138
2139
2140
2141
2142
2143
2144
2145
2146
2147
2148

190. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Code of Conduct for Responsible Fishing, 1995.
191. Committee on World Food Security, Principles for the Responsible Investment in Agriculture andFood Systems, 2014.
192. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable SmallScale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication, 2015.
193. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governanceof Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security, 2012.
194. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture
and Food Systems, 2014.
195. United Nations (UN), Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation andManagement of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, 1995.

2149

Additional references:

2150
2151
2152
2153
2154
2155
2156
2157
2158
2159
2160
2161
2162
2163
2164
2165
2166
2167
2168

196. Committee on World Food Security, Defend the defenders – how to effectively protect those whofight for the right to food?, 2018.
197. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Right to Food and Access to Natural Resources, 2007.
198. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Due diligence, tenure and agricultural investment: A
guide on the dual responsibilities of private sector lawyers in advising on the acquisition of landand natural resources, 2019.
199. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Special Procedures of the
Human Rights Council, webpage.
200. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Report of the Special
Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, 2016.
201. S. Oirere, Kenya fishers protest influx of bigger vessels caused by new port, SeafoodSource,
2019
202. L. Foster, Fish are evolving to escape modern fishing techniques. This is what it means, World
Economic Forum, 2020.
203. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Fishery Manager’s Guidebook – Management
measures and their application, Chapter 6: Use Rights and Responsible Fisheries: Limiting
Access and Harvesting through Rights-based Management, FAO Fisheries Technical Paper. No.
424, 2002.
204. United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat), Secure Land Rights for All, 2006.

2169

Resources:

2170
2171

205. Global Reporting Initiative, Land Tenure Rights: The need for greater transparency among
companies worldwide, 2016.

2172

Topic 13.14 Rights of indigenous peoples

2173

Authoritative instruments:

2174
2175
2176
2177
2178
2179
2180
2181
2182

206. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable SmallScale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication, 2015.
207. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governanceof Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security, 2012.
208. International Labour Organization (ILO), Convention 169 ‘Indigenous and Tribal Peoples
Convention’, 1989.
209. United Nations (UN), ‘Convention on Biological Diversity’, 1992.
210. United Nations (UN) Declaration, ‘United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous
Peoples’, 2007.

2183

Additional references:

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2184
2185
2186
2187
2188
2189
2190
2191
2192
2193
2194
2195
2196
2197
2198
2199
2200
2201
2202
2203
2204
2205
2206
2207
2208
2209

211. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), FAO and traditional knowledge: the linkages with
Sustainability, food security and climate change impact, 2009.
212. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), FAO Policy on Indigenous and Tribal People, 2010.
213. Forest Peoples Programme, Agribusiness large-scale land acquisitions and human rights inSoutheast Asia, 2013.
214. Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, Indigenous Peoples, Afro-Descendent
Communities, and Natural Resources: Human Rights Protection in the Context of Extraction,
Exploitation, and Development Activities, 2015.
215. International Fund for Agricultural Development, Indigenous peoples’ collective rights to lands,
territories and natural resources – Lessons from IFAD-supported projects, 2018.
216. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Climate Change and Land, 2019.
217. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Food security
218. International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA), IWGIA Report 26: Case Studies andLegal Analysis – Land Grabbing, Investments & Indigenous Peoples’ Rights to Land and Natural
Resources, 2016.
219. Office of The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Indigenous Peoples and theUnited Nations Human Rights System, 2013.
220. Oxfam, Unearthed: Land, power and inequality in Latin America, 2016.
221. P. Macgillivray, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Indigenous Peoples’ Tenure Rights in
Fisheries: A Canadian Case Study, 2019.
222. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Indigenous Peoples, Climate change.
223. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Intergovernmental
Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), Knowing our Lands and Resources
Indigenous and Local Knowledge of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Africa, 2015.
224. United Nations, Free, prior and informed consent: a human rights-based approach - Study of theExpert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, 2018.

2210

Resources:

2211
2212

225. Forest People’s Programme, Norway’s International Climate and Forest Initiative, Groundtruthing to improve due diligence on human rights in deforestation-risk supply chains, 2020.

2213

Topic 13.15 Non-discrimination and equal opportunity

2214

Authoritative instruments:

2215
2216
2217
2218

226. International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 190 ‘Violence and Harassment’, 2019.
227. International Labour Organization (ILO), Convention 188 ‘Work in Fishing Convention’, 2007.
228. International Labour Organization (ILO), Tripartite Meeting on Issues relating to Migrant Fishers,
Conclusions on the Promotion of Decent Work for Migrant Fishers, 2017.

2219

Additional references:

2220
2221
2222
2223
2224
2225
2226
2227
2228
2229
2230
2231
2232
2233
2234

229. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Closing the Gender Gap in Agriculture, 2011.
230. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Gender Equality, infographic, accessed 4 February
2021.
231. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Gender, accessed 4 February 2021.
232. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Governing Land for Women and Men, 2013.
233. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Regulating Labour and Safety Standards in the
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, 2018.
234. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture, 2020.
235. Human Rights Council, Peasant Farmers and the Right to Food: a History of Discrimination and
Exploitation, 2009.
236. Human Rights Council, Study on Discrimination In the Context of the Right to Food, 2011.
237. International Labour Organization (ILO), Assessment of International Labour Standards that
Apply to Rural Employment, 2016.
238. International Labour Organization (ILO), Decent Work for Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in the
Rural Economy, 2019.

Page 84 of 92

2235
2236
2237
2238

239. International Labour Organization (ILO), Labour Situation of Indigenous Women in Peru – A
Sudy, 2016.
240. International Labour Organization (ILO), Spotlight on Sexual Violence and Harassment inCommercial Agriculture: Lower and Middle Income Countries, 2018.

2239

Topic 13.16 Forced or compulsory labor

2240

Authoritative instruments:

2241

241. International Labour Organization (ILO), Convention 188 ‘Work in Fishing Convention’, 2007.

2242

Additional references:

2243
2244
2245
2246
2247
2248
2249
2250
2251
2252
2253
2254
2255
2256
2257
2258
2259
2260
2261
2262
2263
2264
2265
2266

242. Amnesty International. The Great Palm Oil Scandal. 2016.
243. European Commission. Questions and Answers - Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU)
fishing in general and in Thailand. European Commission - Fact Sheet. 2019.
244. Global Slavery Index. 2018 Findings, Importing Risk / Cocoa. 2018.
245. Global Slavery Index. 2018 Findings, Importing Risk / Fishing. 2018.
246. Human Rights Watch. Hidden Chains: Rights Abuses and Forced Labor in Thailand’s Fishing
Industry. 2018.
247. International Labour Organization (ILO), Decent work for migrant fishers, 2017.
248. International Labour Organization (ILO). Fighting Forced Labour: The Example of Brazil. 2009.
249. International Labour Organization (ILO). Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) - Paraguay(Ratification: 1967). Individual Case (CAS) - Discussion: 2017, Publication: 106th ILC session(2017). 2017.
250. International Labour Organization (ILO). Forced Labour of Adults and Children in Agriculture
Sector of Nepal. 2013.
251. International Labour Organization (ILO). Global Estimates of Modern Slavery. 2017.
252. International Labour Organization (ILO). Unleashing Rural Development through Productive
Employment and Decent Work: Building on 40 Years of ILO Work in Rural Areas Overview.
2011.
253. International Trade Unions Confederation. Slavery-like Working Conditions and Deadly
Pesticides on Brazilian Coffee Plantations. 2016.
254. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Human Trafficking FAQs, webpage.
255. U.S. Department of Labor. A 2020 List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor.
2020.
256. Verité. Forced Labor Commodity Atlas. 2019.

2267

Resources:

2268
2269

257. U.S. Department of Labor, A List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor, updated
annually.

2270

Topic 13.17 Child labor

2271

Authoritative instruments:

2272
2273
2274
2275

258. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Labour Organization (ILO), Guidance on
Addressing Child Labour in Fisheries and Aquaculture, 2013.
259. International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 182 ‘Worst Forms of Child Labour
Convention’, 1999.

2276

Additional references:

2277
2278
2279
2280

260. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Eliminating Child Labour in Fisheries and Aquaculture– Promoting Decent Work and Sustainable Fish Value Chains. 2018.
261. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Hazardous Child Labour: FAO’s Contribution toProtecting Children from Pesticide Exposure. 2015.

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2281
2282
2283
2284
2285
2286
2287
2288
2289
2290
2291
2292
2293
2294
2295
2296
2297
2298
2299
2300

262. International Labour Organization (ILO). Child Labour in the Primary Production of Sugarcane.
2017.
263. International Labour Organization (ILO), Children in hazardous work, 2011.
264. International Labour Organization (ILO), Education and child labour in agriculture, accessed 4
February 2021.
265. International Labour Organization (ILO). Forced Labour and Trafficking in Fisheries Caught at
Sea. 2013.
266. International Labour Organization (ILO), Global Estimates of Child Labour. 2017.
267. International Labour Organization (ILO). Hazardous Child Labour. 2013.
268. International Labour Organization (ILO). Improving the Safety and Health of Young Workers,
2018.
269. International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering Tobacco and Allied
Workers’ Associations. Child Labour and the Harvesting of Hazelnuts in Turkey Report of a Fact
Finding Mission to Turkey. 2011.
270. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Children’s Work in the Livestock Sector: Herding and
Beyond. 2013.
271. United Nations International Children’s Fund. Understanding the Impacts of Pesticides onChildren. 2018.
272. U.S. Department of Labor, A 2020 List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor,
2020.

2301

Resources:

2302
2303
2304
2305
2306
2307
2308
2309
2310
2311

273. International Labour Organization (ILO), the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), theInternational Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the International Food Policy ResearchInstitute (IFPRI/CGIAR), and the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant,
Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations (IUF), International Partnership for
Cooperation on Child Labour in Agriculture, accessed 4 February 2021.
274. International Labour Organization (ILO), International Organization of Employers. Child Labour
Guidance Tool for Business: How to Do Business with Respect for Children’s Right to Be Free
from Child Labour. 2015.
275. U.S. Department of Labor, A List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor, updated
annually.

2312

Topic 13.18 Freedom of association and collective bargaining

2313

Authoritative instruments:

2314
2315
2316
2317
2318
2319
2320
2321
2322
2323

276. International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 11 ‘Right of Association (Agriculture)
Convention’, 1921.
277. International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 141, ‘Rural Workers' Organizations
Convention’, 1975.
278. International Labour Organization (ILO) Recommendation 192 ‘Safety and Health in Agriculture
Recommendation’, 2001.
279. International Labour Organization (ILO) Recommendation 198 ‘Employment Relationship
Recommendation’, 2006.
280. International Labour Organization (ILO) Recommendation 204 ‘Transition from the Informal to theFormal Economy Recommendation’, 2015.

2324

Additional references:

2325
2326
2327
2328
2329
2330
2331
2332

281. Examples include palm oil and banana plantations. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO),
Diagnosis on the labour rights situation in the global banana industry: Paper on Freedom of
Association and Collective Bargaining, 2012.
282. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)s, Assessment of international labour standards that
apply to rural employment - An overview for the work of FAO relating to labour protection inagriculture, forestry and fisheries, p. 8, 2016.
283. Global Deal for Decent Work and Inclusive Growth, Social Dialogue for the Transition from theInformal to the Formal Economy, 2020.

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2333
2334
2335
2336
2337
2338
2339

284. International Labour Organization (ILO), Gaps in Coverage and Barriers to Ratification and
Implementation of International Labour Standards.
285. International Labour Organization (ILO), Giving voice to rural workers, p.73, 2015.
286. International Trade Union Confederation, Global Rights Index, 2017.
287. International Trade Union Confederation, Global Rights Index, 2021.
288. International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), Submission of the International Transport
Workers’ Federation to the UPR Session for Lao People’s Democratic Republic, 2019.

2340

Topic 13.19 Occupational health and safety

2341

Authoritative instruments:

2342
2343
2344
2345
2346
2347
2348
2349
2350
2351
2352
2353
2354
2355
2356
2357
2358

289. International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 184 ‘Safety and Health in Agriculture
Convention’, 2001.
290. International Labour Organization (ILO) Recommendation 192 ‘Safety and Health in Agriculture
Recommendation’, 2001.
291. International Labour Organization (ILO), Code of practice on Safety and health in agriculture, 2010.
292. International Labour Organization (ILO), Maritime Labour Convention, 2006.
293. International Labour Organization (ILO), Work in Fishing Convention (Convention No. 188), 2007.
294. International Maritime Organization (IMO), Cape Town Agreement (not yet in force), 2012.
295. International Maritime Organization (IMO), Code of Safety for Fishermen and Fishing Vessels,
2005.
296. International Maritime Organization (IMO), Implementation Guidelines on Part B of the Code, theVoluntary Guidelines and the Safety Recommendations (Implementation Guidelines).
297. International Maritime Organization (IMO), Revised Voluntary Guidelines for the design,
construction and equipment of small fishing vessels, 2005.
298. International Maritime Organization (IMO), Safety recommendations for decked fishing vessels of
less than 12 metres in length and undecked fishing vessels.
299. International Maritime Organization (IMO), STCW-F Convention on training of fishers.

2359

Additional references:

2360
2361
2362
2363
2364
2365
2366
2367
2368
2369
2370
2371
2372
2373

300. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Workplace Safety & Health Topics – Commercial
Fishing Safety, accessed 4 February 2021.
301. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Insurance and safety at sea, accessed 4 February
2021.
302. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Labour Organization (ILO), Safety andhealth, accessed 4 February 2021.
303. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Safety at sea for small-scale fishermen, 2019.
304. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Safety for Fishermen, accessed 4 February 2021.
305. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2020,
2020.
306. International Labour Organization (ILO), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International
Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’
Associations, Agricultural Workers and Their Contribution to Sustainable Agriculture and Rural
Development, 2007.
307. International Labour Organization (ILO), Safety and health training manual for the commercial
fishing industry in Thailand, 2014.
308. International Labour Organization (ILO), Maritime sector to address abandonment of seafarers
and shipowners’ liability, accessed 4 February 2021.
309. International Labour Organization (ILO), Safety and health in agriculture, 2011.
310. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Safety for Fishermen, accessed 4 February 2021.
311. International Maritime Organization, Enhancing fishing vessel safety to save lives, accessed 4
February 2021.
312. International Maritime Organization, Seafarer abandonment, accessed 4 February 2021.
313. International Transport Workers’ Federation, Abandonment, accessed 4 February 2021.
314. United Nations Water, Human Rights to Water and Sanitation, accessed 4 February 2021.

2374
2375
2376
2377
2378
2379
2380
2381
2382

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2383

Resources:

2384
2385

315. International Labour Organization (ILO), International Labour Standards on Fishers.
316. International Labour Organization (ILO), WASH@Work a Self-Training Handbook, 2016.

2386

Topic 13.20 Employment practices

2387

Authoritative instruments:

2388
2389
2390
2391
2392
2393
2394
2395
2396
2397
2398
2399
2400
2401
2402
2403
2404
2405
2406
2407
2408
2409
2410
2411
2412
2413
2414

317. Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, Best Practice Guidance on Ethical Recruitment of
Migrant Workers, 2017.
318. International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 110, ‘Plantations Convention’, 1958.
319. International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 141, ‘Migrant Workers Recommendation’,
1975.
320. International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 143, ‘Migrant Workers (Supplementary
Provisions)’, 1975.
321. International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 181, ‘Private Employment Agencies
Convention’, 1997.
322. International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 188, ‘Work in Fishing Convention’(Convention No. 188), 2007.
323. International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 97, ‘Migration for Employment Convention’,1949.
324. International Labour Organization (ILO) Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at
Work, 1998.
325. International Labour Organization (ILO) Recommendation 110, ‘Plantations Recommendation’,
1958.
326. International Labour Organization (ILO) Recommendation 198 ‘Employment Relationship
Recommendation’, 2006.
327. International Labour Organization (ILO) Recommendation 204, ‘Transition from the Informal to
the Formal Economy Recommendation’, 2015.
328. International Labour Organization (ILO) Recommendation 86, ‘Migration for Employment
Recommendation’, 1949.
329. International Labour Organization, General principles and operational guidelines for fairrecruitment, 2019.
330. United Nations (UN) Convention, ‘International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All
Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families’, 1990.

2415

Additional references:

2416
2417
2418
2419
2420
2421
2422
2423
2424
2425
2426
2427
2428
2429
2430
2431
2432
2433
2434

331. European Platform Undeclared Work, Tackling undeclared work in the agricultural sector: alearning resource from the Agricultural Seminar, 2019.
332. International Labour Organization (ILO), Non-standard Employment around the World, 2016.
333. International Labour Organization (ILO), Employment practices and working conditions inThailand’s fishing sector, 2015.
334. International Labour Organization (ILO), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International
Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers'
Associations, Agricultural Workers and Their Contribution to Sustainable Agriculture and Rural
Development, 2007.
335. International Labour Organization (ILO), Seafarers and their families now ensured of protection incases of abandonment, death, and long-term disability, 2017.
336. International Labour Organization (ILO), Stats Sheet n°4: Informal Employment, 2016.
337. International Labour Organization (ILO), Organization for Economic Cooperation andDevelopment (OECD), Tackling Vulnerability in the Informal Economy - Most workers in theworld still go without social protection, 2019.
338. International Maritime Organization (IMO) and International Labour Organization (ILO), Joining
forces to shape the fishery sector of tomorrow, 2020.
339. International Maritime Organization, Enhancing fishing vessel safety to save lives, accessed 4
February 2021.

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2435
2436
2437
2438

340. International Organization for Migration (IOM), International Organisation of Employers,
International Recruitment Integrity System, 2017.
341. Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), OECD Employment Outlook– Chapter 5. Informal Employment and Promoting the Transition to a Salaried Economy, 2004.

2439

Resources:

2440
2441
2442
2443
2444

342. International Labour Organization (ILO) Fair Recruitment Initiative and the International
Organization for Migration (IOM) International Recruitment Integrity System (IRIS), The IRIS
Standard.
343. International Organization for Migration (IOM), Ethical Recruitment and Supply Chain
Management, accessed 4 February 2021.

2445

Topic 13.21 Living income and living wage

2446

Authoritative instruments:

2447
2448
2449
2450
2451
2452
2453

344. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Regulating labour and safety standards in the
agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors, 2018.
345. International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 99, ‘Minimum Wage Fixing Machinery(Agriculture) Convention’, 1951.
346. Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), RSPO Guidance Implementing a Decent Living
Wage, 2019.
347. United Nations (UN), The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948.

2454

Additional references:

2455
2456
2457
2458
2459
2460
2461
2462
2463
2464
2465
2466
2467
2468

348. Fairtrade, Living income, accessed 4 February 2021.
349. Global Living Wage Coalition, The Anker Methodology for Estimating a Living Wage, accessed
27 January 2022.
350. IDH, The Sustainable Trade Initiative, Living Wage Platform, accessed 27 January 2022.
351. International Labour Organization (ILO), Chapter 1: What is a minimum wage, 1.6 Payment inkind, accessed 4 February 2021.
352. International Labour Organization (ILO), Global Wage Report 2020-21, Wages and Minimum
Wages, 2020.
353. International Labour Organization (ILO), Minimum Wage Policy Guide, 2016.
354. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Statement by Ms. Hilal Elver,
United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to food, 2020.
355. Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), RSPO Guidance for Implementing a Decent Living
Wage, 2019.
356. World Bank, Poverty and Shared Prosperity 2016, 2016.

2469

Resources:

2470
2471

357. International Labour Organization (ILO), International Labour Standards on Fishers, accessed 4
February 2021.

2472

Topic 13.22 Economic inclusion

2473

Authoritative instruments:

2474
2475
2476
2477

358. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Guiding Principles for Responsible Contract Farming
Operations, 2012.
359. United Nations (UN) Declaration, ‘Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People’,
2018.

2478

Additional references:2479

360. European Commission, Small-scale fisheries, accessed 4 February 2021.

Page 89 of 92

2480
2481
2482
2483
2484
2485
2486
2487
2488
2489
2490
2491
2492
2493
2494
2495

361. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Agribusiness Public-Private Partnerships: Country
Case Studies – Africa | Rural Finance and Investment Learning Centre, 2013.
362. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Family Farming Knowledge Platform, accessed 4
February 2021.
363. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), The Contribution of Social Protection to Economic
Inclusion in Rural Areas, 2020.
364. International Fund for Agricultural Development, United Nations Environment Programme,
Smallholders, food security, and the environment, 2014.
365. J. Fanzo, ‘From big to small: the significance of smallholder farms in the global food system’, The
Lancet Planetary Health, vol. 1(1), pp. E15-E16, 2017.
366. M. de Koning and B. de Steenhuijsen Piters, Bulletin 390 Development Policy & Practice,
Farmers as Shareholders: A close look at recent experience, 2009.
367. World Bank, Poverty and Shared Prosperity 2016, 2016.
368. World bank, The State of Economic Inclusion Report 2021: The Potential to Scale, 2021.
369. World Bank, World Development Report 2008: Agriculture for Development, 2008.
370. WWF, Small-scale fisheries, webpage.

2496

Topic 13.23 Supply chain traceability

2497

Authoritative instruments:

2498
2499

364. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deterand Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing, 2016.

2500

Additional references:

2501
2502
2503
2504
2505
2506
2507
2508
2509
2510
2511
2512
2513
2514
2515
2516
2517
2518
2519
2520
2521
2522
2523
2524
2525

371. Aquaculture Stewardship Council, Feeding farmed fish responsibly, accessed 4 February 2021.
372. British Standards Institution, PAS 1550:2017 Exercising due diligence in establishing the legal
origin of seafood products and marine ingredients. Importing and processing. Code of practice,2017.
373. British Retail Consortium (BRC), Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) and WWF-UK, An
Advisory Note for the UK Supply Chain on how to avoid Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated(IUU) fishery products, 2015.
374. Ceres, Traceability is a must for companies with zero-deforestation pledges, 2018.
375. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Issue Brief #15 on Combating IUU fishing in the
Caribbean through policy and legislation, 2015.
376. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing,accessed 4 February 2021.
377. Global Fishing Watch, IUU – Illegal, Unreported, Unregulated Fishing, 2016.
378. IDH – The Sustainable Trade Initiative, A Fact-Based Exploration of the Living and Pricing
Strategies that Close the Gap, 2020.
379. To illustrate, only 19% of the soy consumed in the European Union can be traced to producers
who do not increase deforestation; IDH – The Sustainable Trade Initiative, European Soy
Monitor, 2018.
380. International Trade Centre, Traceability in food and agricultural products, 2015.
381. World Economic Forum, Innovation with a Purpose: Improving Traceability in Food Value Chainsthrough Technology Innovations, 2019.
382. World Health Organization (WHO), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), FAO/WHO guidefor developing and improving national food recall systems, 2012.
383. World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF), Soy, accessed 4 February 2021.
384. WWF, Unregulated Fishing of the High Seas of the Indian Ocean, 2020.

2526

Resources:

2527
2528
2529

385. Accountability Framework Initiative, Operational Guidance on Monitoring and Verification, 2019.
386. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Good practice guidelines on national seafood
traceability systems, 2018.

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2530
2531
2532
2533

387. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Traceability: A management tool for enterprises andgovernments, 2016.
388. United Nations Global Compact, BSR, A Guide to Traceability: A Practical Approach to Advance
Sustainability in Global Supply Chains, 2014.

2534

Topic 13.24 Public policy

2535

Additional references:

2536
2537
2538
2539
2540
2541
2542
2543
2544
2545
2546
2547
2548
2549
2550
2551

389. Corporate Europe Observatory, Fishing for influence: Press passes give lobbyists EU Councilbuilding access during fishing quota talks, 2017.
390. Corporate Europe Observatory, Monsanto lobbying: an attack on us, our planet and democracy,
2016.
391. D. C. Boyer and H. J. Boyer, Discussion Paper 9 Sustainable Utilisation of Fish Stocks: Is This
Achievable? A Case Study from Namibia, 2005.
392. European Commission, Assessment of the Agriculture and Rural Development Sectors in the
Eastern Partnership countries, 2012.
393. European Trade Union Institute for Research, The world of EU lobbying in Brussels, 2018.
394. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Livestock’s long shadow: environmental issues andoptions, 2006.
395. Greenpeace, How lobbyists for Monsanto led a ‘grassroots farmers’ movement against an EU
glyphosate ban, 2018.
396. High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition of the Committee on World Food
Security, Agroecological and Other Innovative Approaches for Sustainable Agriculture and Food
Systems that Enhance Food Security and Nutrition, 2019.

2552

Topic 13.25 Anti-competitive behavior

2553

Additional references:

2554
2555
2556
2557
2558
2559
2560
2561
2562
2563
2564
2565

397. European Commission, Case AT.39633 – Shrimps, Cartel Procedure Council Regulation (EC)
1/2003, 2013.
398. European Commission, Study on the Environmental Impact of Palm Oil Consumption and on
Existing Sustainability Standards, 2018.
399. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), The State of Agricultural Commodity Markets 2015-16:
Competition and food security, 2016.
400. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Competition and Regulation in
Agriculture: Monopsony Buying and Joint Selling, 2004.
401. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, Cocoa Study: Industry Structures andCompetition, 2008.
402. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, The effects of anti-competitive businesspractices on developing countries and their development prospects, 2008.

2566

Topic 13.26 Anti-corruption

2567

Additional references:

2568
2569
2570
2571
2572
2573
2574
2575
2576

403. Environmental Investigation Agency, Permitting Crime: How palm oil expansions drives illegal
logging in Indonesia, 2014.
404. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Transparency International, Corruption in the Land
Sector, 2011.
405. IDH – The Sustainable Trade Initiative, A recipe for success? Three measures protecting theCavally forest in West Africa from illegal cocoa farming activities, 2020.
406. International Union for Conservation of Nature, Corruption in fisheries: from bad to worse, 2008.
407. N. Ridler and N. Hishamunda, Promotion of sustainable commercial aquaculture in sub-SaharanAfrica, volume 1, 2001.

2577

Resources:

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2578
2579

408. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Rotten Fish: A guide on addressing corruption in thefisheries sector, 2019.

Page 92 of 92