New How-to Guide from Environmental Defense Fund and Deloitte Empowers Food Companies to Accelerate Climate Progress Through Strategic Commodity Pathways

[New York, NY, April 8, 2024] – As the spotlight grows on greenhouse gas emissions from the food and agriculture sector, an innovative guide co-authored by Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and Deloitte was released today to empower food companies to more efficiently and strategically accelerate progress toward their climate goals

Developed in response to the need from companies to have clearer and more actionable climate guidance, the guide provides invaluable insights for food companies seeking a more strategic approach to drive the greatest impact.

The resource, “Strategic Roadmaps for SBTi Forest, Land, and Agriculture Targets: Prioritizing Action for Impact,” outlines example pathways for six key commodities aligned with the Science Based Targets initiative’s (SBTi) Forest, Land, and Agriculture (FLAG) guidance, enabling food companies to prioritize action toward these ambitious climate targets.

"Sustainability teams at major food companies often tell us they feel overwhelmed by too much, and often conflicting, information, and too little actionable guidance," says Katie Anderson, Business Food & Forests senior director, Environmental Defense Fund. "This much-needed guide fills that gap and provides a strategic framework to equip companies to prioritize action for the greatest impact, so that they can execute effective and efficient climate strategies "

The guide highlights six primary agricultural commodities: beef, dairy, chicken, corn, soy, and wheat. It also emphasizes the significance of breaking out emissions reduction targets and examining opportunities for action by greenhouse gas, focusing on carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane.

"Our agricultural system is already facing the impacts of a changing climate, and its capacity to supply food to a growing population is dependent on swift, deliberate, and prioritized climate action," adds Nicole Jenkins, beef and poultry sector lead, Environmental Defense Fund. "By providing companies with an actionable blueprint through these example pathways, we hope to underscore the value of focusing efforts on the greatest impact opportunities to meaningfully drive down emissions."

While agricultural greenhouse gases are often assessed in terms of carbon dioxide equivalents, the guide underscores the limitations of this approach in properly accounting for the distinct characteristics of each gas, including their differing global warming potentials and atmospheric lifespans.

By considering key differences in greenhouse gases to better prioritize strategic climate action, food companies can play a pivotal role in driving emission reductions and securing a sustainable future for generations to come. Indeed, leveraging key climate opportunities now is our best chance to reduce major risks to our agricultural system and corporate value chains, enhancing profitability and ability to adapt to a changing climate.   

For more information and to access the guide, visit https://business.edf.org/insights/strategic-roadmaps-for-sbti-forest-land-agriculture-targets/.