Briefing Notes
At Proforest, our vision is to help people produce and source agricultural and forest commodities responsibly. Since 2000, we’ve supported companies throughout supply chains to drive positive outcomes for people, nature and climate in the places where these commodities are produced.
We continue to produce technical Briefing Notes to share our latest technical thinking on a current topic, across our work within and beyond supply chains. You can access all of our publications here.
Human rights due diligence: a systematic approach to respecting human rights
26 November 2024
This briefing note outlines the importance of meaningful Human Rights Due Diligence for companies in the agricultural and forestry sectors, supporting them to set up and implement robust processes based on best practice and case studies.
Rethinking climate strategies in agriculture: leveraging climate targets to drive positive impact
19 September 2024
This briefing note aims to support companies to develop a climate strategy that prioritises constructive engagement and impact in their supply chain, their supply base, and the wider sector they are part of.
Agricultural Commodity Responsible Sourcing (ACRES): taking action within and beyond supply chains
3 June 2019
This briefing note sets out our latest approach, explaining the importance of working both within and beyond supply chains, combining different actions and aligning and collaborating with others to achieve change.
Accelerating implementation of responsible sourcing commitments: A Framework for Progress to 2020 and Beyond
2 May 2018
Proforest’s latest briefing makes it clear that, as we approach 2020, we need to move beyond policy commitments and supply chain transparency and to focus on implementation transparency.
Practical assessment and monitoring of forest biodiversity
22 January 2018
This briefing note explores the many uses of the Forest Integrity Assessment (FIA) tool, which can be used by smallholders, community members and medium-sized land holdings to monitor change in forest biodiversity over time.
Delivering company commitments to zero deforestation commodity supply chains
11 October 2017
This briefing note examines how supply chain initiatives can expand from defining and monitoring deforestation to better supporting forest protection on the ground.
Socio-environmental monitoring of the cattle sector in Brazil
19 June 2017
This addition to our range of responsible sourcing and production briefings explores some of the socio-environmental monitoring and traceability tools that exist to to help meat processors to assess cattle suppliers against purchase requirements.
Responsible sourcing in practice: supplier engagement
17 April 2017
Proforest has developed a framework of good practice within which companies can implement their own programme. This briefing summarises Proforest’s approach to supplier engagement.
The High Carbon Stock Approach: an update
13 February 2017
The HCS Approach provides a clear and unified framework for identifying forest and other areas that should be protected, offering companies a coherent set of rules for implementing their 'no deforestation' commitments.
Geospatial risk assessment and 'no deforestation' commitments
12 December 2016
This briefing note explores the opportunities and limitations of geospatial risk assessment as a tool to help companies achieve their ‘no deforestation’ commitments. It also looks at potential applications to other environmental and social issues.
Smallholder engagement
7 November 2016
Many agricultural commodity supply chains rely on smallholder producers who are often poorly connected to markets and lack information, support and resources to implement change if their production practices do not meet...
Building on legality
28 October 2016
This briefing highlights how legal compliance can provide a framework for companies to work with governments, raise standards across the board and strengthen overall natural resource governance.
Implementing responsible sourcing – using landscape or jurisdictional initiatives
28 September 2016
This briefing discusses how these initiatives can support companies’ delivery of responsible sourcing commitments.
Introduction to landscape or jurisdictional initiatives in commodity agriculture
8 August 2016
Companies, governments and NGOs are recognising that implementing commitments to responsible sourcing and production in commodity agriculture is complex and that working with individual producers in individual supply chains is not...
Delivering responsible sourcing in practice: an integrated approach
25 July 2016
This briefing provides an introduction to the three main approaches companies can use: certification, legal compliance and direct engagement.