Rethinking climate strategies in agriculture: leveraging climate targets to drive positive impact

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.

This Briefing Note highlights the need for companies in the agriculture sector to leverage their climate targets to drive positive impact on the ground. In order to promote an equitable and efficient FLAG sector transformation, Proforest is looking to accelerate and scale interventions with a proven positive impact on the ground, and rebalance the disproportionate investment in logistical, data and reporting needs. Furthermore, we believe it’s essential to focus on ways to actually reduce emissions from forest, land and agriculture (FLAG) activities, and not just exclude them from individual supply chains.

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. It outlines general principles that should lead to a more holistic approach to tackling the climate crisis. It presents both opportunities and challenges for how corporate climate targets can contribute to positive impact by leveraging deforestation and conversion free (DCF) supply chains, regenerative agriculture, and landscape initiatives.