Adapting a Global Sustainability Standard for U.S. Rice Production

Transcription

1 Adapting a Global Sustainability Standard for U.S. Rice Production Demonstrating Leadership of U.S. Rice Farmers in Sustainable Production USA Rice Outlook Conference San Diego, California December 2018 White River Irrigation District

2 FUNDERS: PARTNERS: START DATE: END DATE: WEBSITE: U.S. Department of Agriculture NRCS; Entergy Corporation and Partner Contributions Mid-South Rice Growers; White River Irrigation District; Winrock International and it s America Carbon Registry; Environmental Defense Fund; Carbon Credit Solutions; University of Arkansas; Mississippi State University; Arkansas State University; Entergy Corporation and the USDA Agricultural Research Service January 2016 October White River Irrigation District

3 Winrock International Institute for Agricultural Development Non-profit organization that works in the U.S. and around the world to empower the disadvantaged, increase economic opportunity, and sustain natural resources 1985 merger of Winrock Int l Livestock Research & Training Center, International Ag Development Service, and Ag Development Council Rockefeller family tradition of agricultural research and extension, yield improvement, global food security Seeking ways to connect farmers to new markets, enhance competitiveness, maintain/increase yields

4 Sustainability Initiative for U.S. Rice 2016 USDA Conservation Innovation Grant providing funding for a rice farmer-led initiative to develop and pilot a sustainability standard / certification for U.S. rice. Primary Objective To create an inclusive, voluntary process for U.S. rice producers to demonstrate environmental stewardship and global leadership through a standardized, rigorous, credible, transparent and independent standard / certification process.

5 What makes a good standard? Creditable standards are developed in an open and transparent process, allow all stakeholders a means for meaningful participation and are overseen by a knowledgeable and diverse steering committee or advisory board. Creditable standards are periodically reviewed and updated per a transparent consultative process. 1. Relevance in addressing real challenges in the sector 2. Rigor in that practices reflect the latest science 3. Objectivity because they are based in measurable criteria and metrics 4. Engagement because they engage stakeholders in their development 5. Transparency because the development occurs in an open process 6. Accessible because it applies to a range of participants in the sector 7. Improvement in that a regular process for updates and revision is allowed

6 Process to Adapt SRP FORM STEERING COMMITTEE 4 SURVEY 5 REVIEW EXISTING TOOLS; BENCHMARK- ING 6 ADAPT CONTENT 1.0 (LIMITED PIL0TING EXCEL TOOL) PUBLIC COMMENT Q ADAPT CONTENT MARS PILOT QUESTIONN- AIRE WINROCK PILOT (ASSURANCE SYSTEM) 9 SUBMIT TO SRP SECRETARIAT FOR APPROVAL OF U.S. VERSION

7 Industry Survey Acknowledge consumers demand for more sustainable products and the value added from communicating sustainable sources to customers Agree their company accepts corporate responsibility and works to engage with sustainable suppliers AND are more likely to do business with sustainable suppliers 33% have purchased sustainable rice and plan to in the future Have not purchased 67% sustainable rice b/c they have not found a seller of a sustainable product 91% of growers already engage in multiple conservation programs on their operation to increase sustainability only 2 of those growers 29% received a premium for their sustainable rice 22 Grower Responses 6 Buyer Responses Buyers represent 75% of all U.S. rice purchases Kellogg, Nestle, Unilever, Anheuser Busch & Walmart

8 Sustainable Rice Platform Co-convened by UNEP and IRRI Establishes essential principles for defining sustainability Self-reported, questionnaire format Establishes action areas and performance indicators Assurance program and allowable claims in development Focus on small holder farms in SE Asia Bhesier Creat.Comm.

9 Sustainable Rice Platform Lessons learned: developed over a 2- year period with broad stakeholder participation A compact standard: 46 requirements structured under 8 themes, each aimed at achieving a specific sustainability impact Keeping it real: designed for farm-level impact at smallholder level, each requirement is relevant, practical, and under the farmer s control. A tool for improvement: an inclusive tool for practitioners in public and private sectors to drive wide-scale adoption of climate-smart sustainable best practice among rice smallholders

10 Sustainable Rice Platform 8 Activity Areas 12 Performance Indicators Health and Safety Harvest and Post Harvest Labor Pest Management Farm Management Pre-planting Water Use Nutrient Management Profitability Yield Labor Rights Water Quality Food Safety Nutrients Pesticides GHG Emissions Biodiversity Health and Safety Community Child Labor

11 SRP -National Interpretation Guidelines (DRAFT) It is important to protect the integrity and core principles of the SRP Standard, while maximizing its relevance and practical applicability within diverse national contexts - including production systems, agro-ecological environments, socioecological circumstances and legal and regulatory frameworks. National Interpretation Guidelines are therefore designed to serve as a bridge between the global standard and local field application.

12 Objectives of Adapting the SRP for the U.S Maintain a common platform from which U.S. rice growers can objectively claim the sustainability of their production practices as conforming to internationally recognized standards Include relevant U.S. Federal and State programs that are fully aligned with SRP principles Make it easy Make it credible Make it easy

13 Changes to SRP Questionnaire Content Guiding Principles, Activity Areas, Performance Indicators, Questions (46), Scoring and essential performance levels remain in place Any questions covered by law auto-answered for U.S, producers and removed (32 questions ) Remaining questions to reflect U.S. climate conditions and production practices (Example) Remaining questions harmonized with recommended practices from USDA or others Several U.S. Only questions added (but do not impact SRP scoring) to highlight practices not covered by SRP

14 Performance SRP GLOBAL US-SRP (subject to approval) Performance 46 Questions 46 Questions (32 covered by regulation, auto-answered) 132 total points % based score Essential performance on certain questions 132 total points (67 auto) % based score (53%) Essential performance on certain questions US-SRP submitted to SRP Secretariat for approval in If approved by SRP, full use of SRP claims and logos for U.S. producers

15 SRP Proposed Claims Claims (subject to approval) CLAIM Working Towards Sustainable (Level 1, Good) Working Towards Sustainable (Level 2, Better) Sustainably Produced Rice (Level 3, Best) CONDITIONS TO BEGIN USING CLAIM 33% meet essential performance Q20 (pesticide selection) 67% meet essential performance Q20 (pesticide selection) OR meet ALL minimum performance 90% and all minimums met Maintain CONDITIONS TO CONTINUE USING CLAIM Increase score by X points (%, number of actions) Maintain essential performance on Q20 (pesticide selection) Increase score by X points (%, number of actions) Maintain essential performance on Q20 (pesticide selection) OR Maintain ALL minimum performance and increase by X points (%, number of actions) Expected release date: Q2 2019

16 Process to Adapt SRP FORM STEERING COMMITTEE 4 SURVEY 5 REVIEW EXISTING TOOLS; BENCHMARK- ING 6 ADAPT CONTENT 1.0 (LIMITED PIL0TING EXCEL TOOL) PUBLIC COMMENT Q ADAPT CONTENT MARS PILOT QUESTIONN- AIRE WINROCK PILOT (ASSURANCE SYSTEM) 9 SUBMIT TO SRP SECRETARIAT FOR APPROVAL OF U.S. VERSION

17 Assurance and Claims Assurance is demonstrable evidence of conformance with a standard Assurance is an assessment that provides information for decision on validity of and rigor of claims Assurance can be a first-level, second-level or third-level review of documents and conduct of a physical inspection or lab tests (ie: verification)

18 Assurance and Claims Claims and assurance are connected The complexity and cost of an assurance system as well as the entities that are allowed to conduct assurance activities in the system, depend on the claims that are to be made (on package and off-package) Assurance and claims structure are TBD for the SRP and the US-SRP; GLOBAL-GAP is the SRP assurance provider. Winrock is conducting a pilot NOW to understand what is the minimum level of effort that is needed to provide reasonable assurance for the US-SRP (i.e. how simple and streamlined could this possibly be and is that simple enough?) AWESOME STUFF CERTIFIED AWESOME STUFF CERTIFIED

19 2018 Piloting Efforts Pilot 1 Winrock Assurance System 9 Producers 4 States Digital upload of all documents (ex. Photos, maps, soil tests, NRCS docs) Questionnaire Open format, exploratory More welcome Pilot 2 Mars Questionnaire Instrument Using the working draft of the US SRP questionnaire with their grower networks

20 Next Steps 1. Waiting for SRP to post version 2.0 of their Standard (Q1/Q2 2019) 2. Waiting for SRP to adopt National Interpretation Guidelines (Q1/Q2 2019) 3. Waiting for SRP to post and adopt Assurance System (2019?) 4. Winrock to submit US-SRP questionnaire instrument with justifications for changes, recommendations for assurance (2019) 5. USDA CIG concludes (Q3 2019)

21 THANK YOU /company/winrock-international