GRI standards to protect biodiversity in agriculture

Understanding biodiversity in agriculture?

Biodiversity refers to the variety of life in all its forms, including different species of plants, animals and micro-organisms, and the genetic differences within these species and the ecosystems they form.?

In agricultural ecosystems, biodiversity is essential for maintaining the balance and health of the environment. High levels of biodiversity in agriculture contribute to more resilient and productive agricultural systems through a diverse range of crops, livestock and natural predators.?

Biodiversity supports ecosystem services that are fundamental to agricultural productivity. For example, different plant species attract different pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, which are essential for the pollination of many crops. In addition, the presence of certain natural predators helps control pest populations, reducing the need for chemical pesticides. Diverse soil organisms improve soil fertility by decomposing organic matter and completing the nutrient cycle, thereby supporting crop growth.?

Biodiverse agricultural systems are also more resilient to environmental stresses, such as extreme weather events and diseases. For example, sowing different species rather than a monoculture results in plants that can withstand different climatic conditions and phytopathologies, ensuring that some will survive even when others die. This diversity helps farmers adapt to climate change and reduces the risk of crop loss.?

Overall, farms with high biodiversity are often more productive and sustainable Diverse cropping systems can improve soil health and reduce the need for synthetic inputs such as fertilisers and pesticides, leading to more sustainable farming practices. For example, intercropping, where several crops are grown together, can lead to higher yields than monoculture systems because different crops can complement each other in terms of nutrient use and pest resistance.??

What are the GRI standards??

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is an independent international organisation that provides a standardised framework for sustainability reporting to help companies and organisations communicate their environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance. Through a comprehensive set of guidelines, GRI aims to increase transparency and accountability, enabling stakeholders to make informed decisions based on reliable and comparable data. For the agricultural sector, the GRI standards are particularly relevant as they address critical issues such as resource use, environmental impacts and biodiversity conservation.? ? The GRI standards are divided into three series: universal, sector and topic. Universal standards apply to all organisations that need to produce a sustainability report. Sector standards enable consistent reporting on sector-specific impacts and topic standards list disclosures relevant to a particular topic.?

Universal Standards?

The GRI Universal Standards are essential for any organisation that needs to prepare a sustainability report. These standards provide the general guidelines necessary for reporting on environmental, social and economic performance. The GRI Universal Standards are divided into three main documents:?

• GRI 1: Foundation?

provides the basis for understanding and using the GRI standards. It covers the key principles and requirements for an organisation to produce a sustainability report. It also provides guidance on how to use the GRI standards together with other topic and sector standards.?

• GRI 2: General Disclosures??

Organisations are asked to provide general information about themselves, such as their organisational context, governance, strategy, ethics, integrity, stakeholder engagement and reporting practices. This information provides a comprehensive and contextualised overview of the organisation.?

• GRI 3: Material Topics?

It guides organisations in identifying, reporting and managing their material topics - those that reflect the organisation's significant impacts on the economy, people and the environment. GRI 3 is essential for determining which topics should be included in sustainability reports, helping organisations to focus their resources and reporting on the most relevant topics.?

These universal standards are the starting point for any organisation wishing to use the GRI for sustainability reporting. They can then be supplemented with Sector and Topic Standards to address specific and sectoral issues.?

Sector Standards?

The GRI Sector standards are specific standards that guide organisations in reporting on impacts relevant to the sector in which they operate. These standards have been developed to address the unique characteristics and challenges of different economic sectors, allowing for more focused and comparable reporting by organisations in the same sector.?

As of 2024, the GRI Sector standards cover a number of key sectors, each with specific guidelines to help organisations identify and manage their material impacts.??

GRI 13: Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries?

GRI 13 is one of the sector standards of the Global Reporting Initiative and is specifically designed to address sustainability issues in the agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries sectors.?

It focuses on key areas of particular relevance to the agricultural sector:?

• Land use and environmental impacts: Agriculture is a major driver of land use change, with significant impacts on biodiversity, soil quality and water resources. GRI 13 requires organisations to report detailed information on how they manage and mitigate these impacts.?

• Management of natural resources: This standard highlights the importance of the sustainable management of natural resources, such as water and soil, which are critical to agricultural production. Organisations are required to report on practices used to conserve these resources and minimise environmental impacts.?

• Climate change and resilience: With climate change posing a growing threat to agriculture, GRI 13 requires companies to report on their strategies for managing climate risks, such as adopting resilient and sustainable agricultural practices.?

• Human rights and labour conditions: This standard addresses labour conditions and human rights, which are fundamental in many agricultural supply chains. Organisations are required to provide information on compliance with the rights of workers, including seasonal and migrant workers.??

Topic Standards?

GRI Topic Standards provide specific guidelines for reporting on certain sustainability topics that may be relevant to different organisations, regardless of their business sector. These standards focus on specific topics, such as human rights, emissions, and waste management, and can be applied to any organisation with significant impacts in these areas.?

Here are some topic standards that are particularly relevant to the agricultural sector:?

• GRI 303: Water and Effluents: critical for water management in agriculture, where the efficient and sustainable use of water is essential. For example, GRI 303-1: Water Withdrawal by Source measures water withdrawal from different sources and provides an overview of water use.?

• GRI 304: Biodiversity: relevant for reporting on the impact of agricultural practices on biodiversity and natural ecosystems.?

• GRI 305: Emissions: relevant for monitoring and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural activities.?

• GRI 306: Waste: addresses the management of waste generated by agricultural activities, including crop residues and other agricultural waste.?

• GRI 308: Supplier Environmental Assessment: applies to assess suppliers' environmental practices and ensure that raw materials are sourced in a sustainable manner.?

These topic standards help agricultural organisations to measure and report on the environmental, social and economic impacts of their activities in a specific and detailed way, contributing to sustainable and transparent management.?

Challenges and opportunities: why include biodiversity in your reporting??

There are several reasons why it is important to include biodiversity indicators in GRI reports. First, it helps companies identify and manage the risks associated with biodiversity loss, which can have significant economic and environmental impacts. For example, the loss of pollinators due to habitat destruction can have a significant impact on crop yields and agricultural productivity. ? Second, biodiversity reporting can enhance a company's reputation and build trust with stakeholders, including customers, investors and regulators. By demonstrating a commitment to environmental management, farms can differentiate themselves in a competitive marketplace and attract sustainability-oriented customers.? In addition, GRI reporting can encourage continuous improvement in biodiversity management. By regularly tracking and reporting on biodiversity metrics, companies can monitor their progress, identify areas for improvement and implement more effective conservation practices. This ongoing process can lead to better environmental outcomes and contribute to the long-term sustainability of agricultural systems.?

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Sources?

1. FAO: "Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services". Food and Agriculture Organization https://www.fao.org/biodiversity/en/ ? ??

1. IPCC: "Climate Change and Land"? https://www.ipcc.ch/srccl/ ??

1. UN Environment Programme: "Intercropping for Sustainable Agriculture". https://www.unep.org/ ??

1. GRI: “GRI 304: Biodiversity 2016” https://www.globalreporting.org/pdf.ashx?id=12499 ?

1. GRI: "GRI 103: Management Approach 2016” https://www.carrotsandsticks.net/media/4mmfej4r/311_8_gri_2018.pdf ??

1. GRI: “the GRI Standards” https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/ ??

1. GRI 101: Biodiversità 2024 https://www.globalreporting.org/news/news-center/transparency-standard-to-inform-global-response-to-biodiversity-crisis/ ??

1. GRI 303: Water and Effluents 2018 https://www.globalreporting.org/pdf.ashx?id=12488 ?

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