Resilience assessment of avocado and pineapple value chains


Book Description

Building resilience is important for agrifood systems – such as tropical fruit value chains – to prepare, withstand and adapt to a wide range of risks, including climate and non-climatic shocks and stresses. Resilience is also important to foster transformation of value chains, to both minimize the negative impacts of external risks on the supply chain and also to prevent new operational problems that could compromise the long-term viability of businesses. The FAO-led Building responsible global value chains for the sustainable production and trade of tropical fruits project conducted a comprehensive study during the last quarter of 2022 to identify the main resilience challenges that participants in the avocado and pineapple sectors are facing. The study also aimed to understand the capacities the actors from both value chains possess to prevent, anticipate, absorb, adapt and transform in view of future climate and socioeconomic risks. The report includes the main results from the study, which were validated by the project participants during a workshop held on 6 December 2022. The findings largely draw on literature review and consultations with some of the main actors from the global avocado and pineapple industries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.




FAO publications catalogue 2023


Book Description

This catalogue aims to improve the dissemination and outreach of FAO’s knowledge products and overall publishing programme. By providing information on its key publications in every area of FAO’s work, and catering to a range of audiences, it thereby contributes to all organizational outcomes. From statistical analysis to specialized manuals to children’s books, FAO publications cater to a diverse range of audiences. This catalogue presents a selection of FAO’s main publications, produced in 2023 or earlier, ranging from its global reports and general interest publications to numerous specialized titles. In addition to the major themes of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, it also includes thematic sections on climate change, economic and social development, and food safety and nutrition.




Responsible business conduct in the avocado industry: a guide for producers and exporters


Book Description

This guide aims to support growers and businesses operating in the global avocado industry in their efforts to implement responsible business conduct (RBC) practices to improve the sustainability of their operations. By committing to RBC and implementing due diligence processes, these businesses can avoid social conflicts and environmental damage, which will also help to minimize financial losses and maintain long-term profitability. Responsible business conduct helps to identify, prioritize and deal with problems as they arise, rather than waiting for them to grow bigger or be discovered by others. The purpose of this guide is to strengthen the capacity of avocado producing, packing and exporting businesses and associations, including small and medium-sized companies, to begin their RBC journey by implementing Step 2 of the due diligence process (i.e. identify and prioritize risks of negative impacts). The guide also discusses ways to address these risks to implement Step 3: Cease, remedy, prevent and/or mitigate risks. The guide builds on the OECD-FAO Guidance for Responsible Agricultural Supply Chains and provides references to many other useful resources. It was developed by the Responsible Fruits Project with support from the Government of Germany.




Responsible business conduct in the pineapple industry: a guide for producers and exporters


Book Description

This guide aims to support growers and businesses operating in the global pineapple industry in their efforts to implement responsible business conduct (RBC) practices to improve the sustainability of their operations. By committing to RBC and implementing due diligence processes, these businesses can avoid social conflicts and environmental damage, which will also help to minimize financial losses and maintain long-term profitability. Responsible business conduct helps to identify, prioritize and deal with problems as they arise, rather than waiting for them to grow bigger or be discovered by others. The purpose of this guide is to strengthen the capacity of pineapple producing, packing and exporting businesses and associations, including small and medium-sized companies, to begin their RBC journey by implementing Step 2 of the due diligence process (i.e. identify and prioritize risks of negative impacts). The guide also discusses ways to address these risks to implement Step 3: Cease, remedy, prevent and/or mitigate risks. The guide builds on the OECD-FAO Guidance for Responsible Agricultural Supply Chains and provides references to many other useful resources. It was developed by the Responsible Fruits Project with support from the Government of Germany.




Responsible Fruits Project follow-up survey results


Book Description

The project “Building responsible global value chains for the sustainable production and trade of tropical fruits” (the Responsible Fruits Project) supports avocado and pineapple industry actors to strengthen or establish risk-based due diligence systems with the aim of making their operations more sustainable and resilient to shocks. In 2021, a baseline survey was conducted targeting avocado and pineapple producers, packers and their organizations, and trade associations (collectively referred to as “companies” in this report for the sake of simplicity). In March 2024, a follow-up survey was undertaken with 44 avocado or pineapple companies who had actively participated in the Responsible Fruits Project. The objectives of the follow-up survey were to: 1. Update existing information on sustainability challenges faced by avocado and pineapple companies to understand if these challenges have changed, and if any progress has been made on addressing previously identified problems and risks; 2. Identify the extent to which project participants have been able to incorporate information and outputs from the project to support their business in a positive way; and 3. Find out if project participants are interested in establishing a multistakeholder initiative as a means of moving beyond the project in the future. This is the full report on the follow-up survey and an analysis of its results. A brief summary report is also available.




Adapting to climate change in the tropical fruit industry: a technical guide for avocado producers and exporters


Book Description

Climate change is impacting global food production systems, making the challenge of feeding the world’s growing population more difficult than ever before. The tropical fruit sector is particularly at risk from the negative impacts of climate change driven by rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and associated challenges such as water stress and increased pests and diseases. This poses significant risks for the long-term sustainability of production and trade of important tropical fruits including avocados. Recognizing these challenges, the Responsible Fruits Project has developed this technical guide on climate change adaptation for the avocado export industry. The guide is for producers and exporters of avocado who are interested in learning more about climate change in the context of their own business systems. It was developed through a consultative process with avocado companies and producer organizations participating in the Responsible Fruits Project. The purpose of this technical guide is to: • Provide up-to-date information on recent and predicted climate change effects and trends in key avocado producing and exporting countries. • Identify climate change risks and impacts on the production and trade of avocado. • Identify adaptation practices and recommendations that may help to address these risks, minimize negative impacts and build resilience. • Share good practices adopted by companies to address specific climate-related production risks in a sustainable manner. • Identify gaps in information, research and technical solutions needed to strengthen the availability and adoption of adaptation practices.




Evaluation of FAO’s country programme in Ethiopia 2014-2019


Book Description

Ethiopia is a low-income country and agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, accounting for for 34 percent of GDP and 70 percent of total employment share. Ethiopia remains one of the world’s poorest countries, despite the significant progress achieved in reducing poverty and hunger. The Government of Ethiopia through its Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP II) has consistently prioritized the transformation of agriculture from low-input, subsistence-oriented production systems to a fast-growing, intensive and commercially oriented sector to support the country’s aspirations to become a middle-income country by 2025. FAO’s Country Programme Framework (2016-2020), was formulated based on the GTP II. Over the evaluation period (2014-2019), FAO exceeded the resource mobilization targets. Overall, FAO’s programme displays several imbalances and disconnects, specifically between development activities and emergency response. The evaluation calls for FAO to adopt a more cohesive programmatic approach and continue to consolidate its fragmented programme. In the context of the Government’s plans for agricultural transformation, the evaluation also recommends that FAO support an economically sound value chain and market-based approach to agricultural development, while upholding normative values of inclusiveness and ecological sustainability.




Adapting to climate change in the tropical fruit industry: a technical guide for pineapple producers and exporters


Book Description

Climate change is impacting global food production systems, making the challenge of feeding the world’s growing population more difficult than ever before. The tropical fruit sector is particularly at risk from the negative impacts of climate change driven by rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and associated challenges such as water stress and increased pests and diseases. This poses significant risks for the long-term sustainability of production and trade of important tropical fruits including pineapple. Recognizing these challenges, the Responsible Fruits Project has developed this technical guide on climate change adaptation for the pineapple export industry. The guide is for producers and exporters of pineapple who are interested in learning more about climate change in the context of their own business systems. It was developed through a consultative process with pineapple companies and producer organizations participating in the Responsible Fruits Project. The purpose of this technical guide is to: • Provide up-to-date information on recent and predicted climate change effects and trends in key pineapple producing and exporting countries. • Identify climate change risks and impacts on the production and trade of pineapple. • Identify adaptation practices and recommendations that may help to address these risks, minimize negative impacts and build resilience. • Share good practices adopted by companies to address specific climate-related production risks in a sustainable manner. • Identify gaps in information, research and technical solutions needed to strengthen the availability and adoption of adaptation practices.




Food Outlook - Biannual Report on Global Food Markets


Book Description

Food markets in 2019/20 are bracing for some additional uncertainties beyond their own fundamentals. A fast-changing trade environment and the rapid spread of African Swine Fever constitute important challenges to overcome. However, prospects point to generally well supplied markets, which is seen to contribute to a lower food import bill in 2019.




Postharvest Handling


Book Description

Consideration of the interactions between decisions made at one point in the supply chain and its effects on the subsequent stages is the core concept of a systems approach. Postharvest Handling is unique in its application of this systems approach to the handling of fruits and vegetables, exploring multiple aspects of this important process through chapters written by experts from a variety of backgrounds.Newly updated and revised, this second edition includes coverage of the logistics of fresh produce from multiple perspectives, postharvest handing under varying weather conditions, quality control, changes in consumer eating habits and other factors key to successful postharvest handling.The ideal book for understanding the economic as well as physical impacts of postharvest handling decisions.Key Features:*Features contributions from leading experts providing a variety of perspectives*Updated with 12 new chapters*Focuses on application-based information for practical implementation*System approach is unique in the handling of fruits and vegetables