Forest Positive Coalition of Action Responds to COP27 Agriculture Sector Roadmap to 1.5°C

• 22 member companies of Forest Positive Coalition of Action issue statement addressed to 14 signatories of COP27 Agriculture Sector Roadmap to 1.5°C
• Coalition expresses support for collective initiative from commodity traders, but calls for stronger ambitions and actions to effectively halt commodity-driven deforestation and conversion

The 22 members of The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) Forest Positive Coalition of Action remain committed to ending commodity-driven deforestation and conversion in our supply chains. We recognise agricultural trading and processing companies as key enablers of our mission and are committed to working with suppliers and traders that share our ambition and are themselves committed to implementing forest positive commitments across their whole business.

COP27 was a pivotal moment highlighting the urgency of climate action and we welcome the commitment 14 global agricultural trading and processing companies have made to enhance supply chain action consistent with a 1.5°C pathway by halting commodity-driven deforestation and conversion. In the Agriculture Sector Roadmap to 1.5°C outlining the strategy to implement this commitment, we are encouraged to see support for initiatives that transform production landscapes and, particularly for palm oil, supply chain actions mostly aligned with the Coalition’s Commodity Roadmaps. 

For soy and cattle, it is clear that the Agriculture Sector Roadmap lacks necessary ambition to meet the stated goal of action consistent with a 1.5°C pathway and is at odds with the direction of deforestation due diligence legislation in the EU. It also sets an unacceptably low standard far below the expectations Coalition members have of their suppliers, which were clearly communicated by the Coalition during the roadmap’s consultation process in August 2022. 

For soy sector, we call on traders to:

• Commit to eliminating conversion of forests and other natural ecosystems from soy supply chains, crucially in high-priority areas including the Cerrado and Gran Chaco, not just deforestation, 
• Commit to a cut-off date consistent with sectoral agreements and no later than 2020, retaining the agreed 2025 target date. 

For the cattle sector, we welcome the commitment to eliminate legal and illegal deforestation in the Amazon by 2025 for both direct and indirect suppliers; however, we recommend the same conditions apply in the Cerrado and other high-priority areas. Furthermore, we encourage greater ambition by fully aligning with Cattle Agreement signatories’ commitments and with the Voluntary Monitoring Protocol for Cattle Suppliers in the Cerrado with regards to cut-off dates for illegal and legal conversion. 

If these conditions are not met, the members of the Forest Positive Coalition will not be able to ensure that their commitments are met, and climate goals will be at risk, which may entail broader consequences for consumers and market participants.

As the signatories of the Agriculture Sector Roadmap develop their individual commodity specific implementation plans, we strongly encourage their publication by Q2 2023. Our vision for forest positive businesses is detailed in our Guidance for Forest Positive Soy Suppliers and Traders, Guidance for Forest Positive Suppliers of Cattle-derived Products, and Guidance for Forest Positive Palm Oil Suppliers. Note that publication of an updated guidance for suppliers of cattle-derived products is imminent. As the signatories of the Agriculture Sector Roadmap develop their individual commodity-specific implementation plans, we urge them to refer to these guidance documents to take meaningful action to eliminate commodity-driven deforestation and conversion from their supply chains. 

Although retailers and manufacturers play an important role, we cannot stop deforestation alone. For real impact, collective action and collaboration will be necessary. As a Coalition, we are eager to work toward shared action with different stakeholders and to help advance collective action towards a forest positive future. As supply chain partners facing common challenges, the Coalition welcomes opportunities for collaboration, and hopes our industries can work together to meet common goals. The Coalition will further explore avenues to co-develop joint action with traders to advance toward common goals. We call on signatories of the Agriculture Sector Roadmap to participate in this dialogue and join us in this critically important work. 

Signed by the Forest Positive Coalition of Action

For further reading, see the Retail Soy Group’s response to the Agriculture Sector Roadmap to 1.5°C here.

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About the Forest Positive Coalition of Action

The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) Forest Positive Coalition of Action is a CEO-led initiative representing 22 CGF member companies who are committed to leveraging collective action and accelerating systemic efforts to remove deforestation, forest degradation and conversion from key commodity supply chains. Launched in 2020, the Coalition represents a dynamic shift in the industry’s approach to stopping deforestation: by mobilising the leading position of member companies to build multi-stakeholder partnerships and develop effective implementation and engagement strategies, the Coalition brings together diverse stakeholders for sustainable impact. These efforts support the development of forest-positive businesses that drive transformational change in key landscapes and commodity supply chains, strengthening the resilience of communities and ecosystems worldwide. To learn more about the Forest Positive Coalition, visit www.tcgfforestpositive.com.

About The Consumer Goods Forum

The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) is the only CEO-led organisation that represents both manufacturers and retailers globally. It brings together senior leaders from more than 400 retailers, manufacturers and other stakeholders across 70 countries. The CGF accelerates change through eight Coalitions of Action: forests, human rights, plastics, healthier lives, food waste, food safety, supply chains and product data. Its member companies have combined sales of EUR 4.6 trillion and directly employ nearly 10 million people, with a further 90 million related jobs estimated along the value chain. It is governed by its Board of Directors, which comprises more than 55 manufacturer and retailer CEOs. For more information, please visit: www.theconsumergoodsforum.com.

For further information, please contact:

Didier Bergeret
Director, Sustainabiliy
The Consumer Goods Forum
Forest Positive

Madelaine VanDerHeyden
Manager, Communications
The Consumer Goods Forum
Email