March 2014 saw a number of initiatives launched linked to the promotion of more sustainable patterns of livestock production. The first of these was the release for public consultation of the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (GRSB) draft “Principles and criteria for global sustainable beef”. The GRSB brought together “producers and producer associations, the processing sector, retail companies, civil society organizations, and regional roundtables” to identify “key areas in the beef value chain that must be addressed to ensure [that] beef production around the globe is environmentally sound, socially responsible and economically viable”. Equal importance is attached to environmental, social and economic sustainability concerns.

The GRSB sets out 10 criteria to be met in promoting the sustainable use of natural resources, 6 criteria for addressing labour and community issues, 8 criteria for addressing animal health and welfare issues, 3 criteria for addressing food safety issues and 9 criteria related to efficiency and innovation in the beef sector. It is not a certification scheme, but rather is intended to provide “a common baseline understanding” of sustainability issues in the beef sector.

Underlying the moves towards establishing sustainability standards for beef production are concerns that if sustainability issues are not addressed, more customers in developed country markets could turn away from beef consumption on ethical grounds.

The second initiative was the release of Global Feed Sustainability Guidelines developed by the FAO as part of a multi-stakeholder process. The guidelines have reportedly already taken on board the “main recommendations of the Product Environmental Footprint Guide developed by the European Commission”, and aim to establish “a harmonised, science-based, practical and international approach to the assessment of the environmental performance of feed supply chains”. A process of public consultation is open until 31 July 2014.

March 2014 also saw the issuing by the European Compound Feed Manufacturers’ Federation (FEFAC) and international partners of an updated “roadmap” for the responsible sourcing of soybeans. This includes plans to set up an independent benchmark system for existing certification schemes. The main objective of the updated roadmap is “to foster mainstream market solutions for the supply of responsibly produced soybean products to EU feed markets”.

The guidelines, according to FEFAC, need to be seen in the context of the EU shortfall in animal protein crops and public concern over the environmental, social and economic impact of EU feed imports. FEFAC identifies five key issues for the supply of responsibly produced soybean products:

• responsible working conditions;
• the banning of purchases from illegally deforested land;
• the promotion of good agricultural practices in terms of agrochemical use;
• respect for legal use of land/land rights;
• protection of community relations.

The industry also notes its commitment to:

• “promoting the production and supply of responsibly produced soybean meal to Europe”;
• developing “a regular benchmarking system, which will be transparent and operated independently;”
• setting “minimum criteria to facilitate the generation of market volume for the supply of responsibly produced soybean meal to European customers”;
• “a stepwise approach for continuous improvement allowing the building up of market volume”.