The U.S. Farmers & Ranchers in Action (USFRA) has launched a new report, U.S. Agriculture’s Opportunities to Contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals.

The first report of its kind for this sector, it spotlights the key role U.S. food and agriculture has in helping to reach the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In accordance with the framework set out in the SDG Sector Roadmap Guidelines developed by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) with ERM, the report outlines the sector’s existing contributions and challenges related to each of the SDGs, while highlighting the key trends impacting the sector today.

Based on the findings, the report highlights eight opportunities for the sector to have the greatest impact on achieving the SDGs, including reversing biodiversity loss, delivering climate change solutions and continuing to help to feed a growing population.

The report also serves as a basis for members of the food and agriculture value chain to acknowledge their own positive contributions, align on challenges that remain and advance specific opportunities for environmental, social and economic impacts – both in the U.S. and the rest of the world.

ERM helped to develop the report by conducting the desk research and analysing the interview findings to map the sector’s contributions to each of the SDGs and identify the 8 key opportunities for the sector to contribute to the SDGs. ERM also helped test the findings and analysis by leading a workshop with sector and SDG experts, as well as writing the report with support from USFRA in identifying key examples of how the opportunities can be achieved.

The opportunities identified focus on areas where collaboration is needed across the US food and agriculture value chain to deliver a sustainable and resilient world by 2030. Organized into three pillars: People, Planet and Process, the opportunities span ambitions to build and empower the workforce by achieving racial and gender equity, accelerate climate action by scaling the adoption of climate-smart practices, and eliminate waste through value chain collaboration and scaling infrastructure for data management.

The findings were developed through a literature review and rigorous stakeholder engagement process comprising 41 interviews and a review workshop with stakeholders from across the value chain. In addition to ERM’s role in this work, USFRA’s partners in producing the report also included WBCSD and the work was supported by the United Soybean Board.

About U.S. Farmers & Ranchers in Action (USFRA)
Formerly U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance represents farmer and rancher-led organizations, and food and agricultural partners, with a common vision to further our global sustainable food systems. Learn more

World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)
WBCSD is a global, CEO-led organization of over 200 leading businesses working together to accelerate the transition to a sustainable world. We help make our member companies more successful and sustainable by focusing on the maximum positive impact for shareholders, the environment and societies. Learn more