Data or statistical facts on the situation and perspectives of agri-food systems and the impact of policies
4 main chain-of-custody approaches are used by VSS with varying levels of traceability: identity-preserved, segregated, mass balance, and book and claim (Larrea et al., 2021).
33% of the analyzed VSS (3 out of 9) include specific criteria concerning reforestation: Rainforest Alliance, RSPO and ISCC (Larrea et al., 2021).
89% of the analyzed VSS (8 out of 9) require producers to restore natural areas, excluding only Fairtrade which has it as recommended (Larrea et al., 2021).
100% of the analyzed VSS include prohibitions on converting areas with high biodiversity, conservation value or carbon storage with specific cut-off dates (Larrea et al., 2021).
89% of the analyzed VSS (8 out of 9) include required criteria for spatial planning to avoid biodiversity loss, excluding only Fairtrade (Larrea et al., 2021).
78% of the analyzed VSS (7 out of 9) include required criteria to minimize the impact of agrochemicals, excluding ISCC and ProTerra (Larrea et al., 2021).
100% of the analyzed VSS include required criteria to maintain critical and sensitive ecosystems, except Fairtrade which has it as recommended (Larrea et al., 2021).
100% of the analyzed VSS (Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance, Organic, RSPO, ISCC, RTRS, ProTerra, FSC, PEFC) include required criteria for greenhouse gas reduction and carbon emissions (Larrea et al., 2021).
9 Voluntary Sustainability Standards were analyzed operating in agricultural commodities: Fairtrade International, Rainforest Alliance, Organic, RSPO, ISCC, RTRS, ProTerra, FSC and PEFC (Larrea et al., 2021).
4 main forest commodities (cocoa, palm oil, soybean and timber) have been identified as drivers of deforestation and are subject to various VSS (Larrea et al., 2021).
