Library | ESG issues
Food Systems
Food systems encompass all processes and activities involved in producing, processing, distributing, and consuming food. They have a significant impact on population health and the environment, with key challenges including food security, food waste, nutrition-related diseases, and environmental degradation. Investors can assess companies based on factors such as sustainable sourcing, climate impact, sustainable farming practices, and regulatory compliance.
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Regenerative agriculture: Moving from ambition to credibility
This report evaluates regenerative agriculture commitments across 78 global agri-food companies. While disclosures have increased, quantified targets have declined to 28%. Significant gaps remain in financial support for farmers and pesticide reduction targets, with the pork and poultry sectors largely overlooked in transition planning.
Connecting capital within African agrifood systems: Lessons from a decade of practice
This report examines the structural misalignment between investors and agribusinesses in African agrifood systems. It highlights that while annual climate finance reached USD 7.8 billion, it falls short of the USD 1.1 trillion global requirement. Recommendations focus on improving technical assistance and intermediation to mobilise capital effectively.
Environmental claims, climate promises, and ‘greenwashing’ by meat and dairy companies
This research examines environmental claims from 33 major meat and dairy companies. It finds that 98% of 1,233 identified claims constitute greenwashing. While most claims are climate-related, many are unverifiable future promises lacking scientific evidence. The industry’s sustainability reporting often mimics tactics used by the fossil fuel sector.
Global report on food crises series
The Global Report on Food Crises is an annual benchmark series tracking acute food insecurity, malnutrition and forced displacement in countries facing food crises. Produced by FAO, WFP and the Global Network Against Food Crises, it delivers consensus-based, multi-agency analysis to guide humanitarian and development decision-making globally.
Where cultivated meat can be sold
An interactive tracker by The Good Food Institute mapping global regulatory approvals and market pathways for cultivated meat products.
Climate change and cruelty: Revealing the true impact of factory farming
This World Animal Protection report examines the climate and environmental impacts of factory farming in Brazil, China, the USA and the Netherlands. It models scenarios for reduced meat consumption and higher welfare production, finding that eating less and better could halve the climate impacts of chicken and pork by 2040.
State of the Industry: Cultivated meat, seafood, and ingredients series
This benchmark series is an annual State of the Industry series that provides a global overview of the cultivated meat, seafood and ingredients sector. It tracks commercial developments, investment activity, scientific and technological progress, consumer insights, and government and regulatory developments, assessing the sector’s progress towards large-scale commercialisation and adoption.
Food systems and antimicrobial resistance: Impacts on food safety, animal production and trade
This report examines the impact of antimicrobial resistance in food systems on public health, animal production, and international trade. It highlights the role of food-borne pathogens and commensal bacteria in transmitting resistance, evaluates risk analysis models, and recommends enhanced surveillance, antimicrobial stewardship, and standardisation of global trade regulations.
Assessing the resilience of global grain supplies to compound climatic and non-climatic shocks
This research evaluates the resilience of global grain supplies to compounding climatic and non-climatic shocks. Using a bilateral trade model for 177 countries, it demonstrates that energy price spikes and extreme weather severely disrupt food systems, highlighting the need for strategic stockpiling and diversified trade agreements to ensure food security.
RIAA Conference Australia 2026 - Companion Resources
Responsible investment has moved well beyond principles and pledges. Today’s challenges require practical capability and informed judgement. The RIAA Conference is a must-attend event for finance, sustainability and industry practitioners who want to focus on the key themes for responsible investment in 2026 and what implementation really looks like. Designed as an immersive, hands-on experience, the program focuses on the systems that underpin strong financial performance, and will help you understand how climate, nature, technology, governance and regulation intersect.
These specially curated companion resources have been recommended by the conference speakers and Altiorem team.
These specially curated companion resources have been recommended by the conference speakers and Altiorem team.
Blocking a better world altogether: Rabobank’s bogus policy about animal welfare and sustainable agriculture
World Animal Protection argues Rabobank’s sustainability policies fail to match its financing practices, alleging continued support for companies linked to animal cruelty, deforestation and high emissions. The report urges stricter lending conditions, stronger monitoring and reduced investment in industrial livestock expansion to align with climate and animal welfare goals.
The thematic assessment report on the interlinkages among biodiversity, water, food and health
IPBES assesses links between biodiversity, water, food, health and climate, finding siloed decisions worsen trade-offs. It identifies integrated governance, sustainable consumption, ecosystem restoration and finance reform as response options to support more just and sustainable outcomes.
Knowledge Centre for Bioeconomy
The Knowledge Centre for Bioeconomy is a European Commission platform providing curated data, tools and analysis to support evidence-based policymaking. It consolidates research, indicators and policy information on biomass-based sectors, enabling stakeholders to monitor developments and assess the sustainability and economic impacts of the EU bioeconomy.
Seafood traceability engagement series
This series examines how investor engagement can drive improved traceability in global seafood supply chains. It focuses on assessing company progress, encouraging adoption of traceability systems, and supporting investors in identifying and managing environmental and social risks within complex seafood value chains.
The economics of water: Valuing the hydrological cycle as a global common good
The report argues the hydrological cycle should be governed as a global common good, with water valued more accurately and managed for efficiency, equity and environmental sustainability, supported by five missions spanning food systems, ecosystems, circular water use, lower water-intensity industry, and universal safe water access. The report is produced by the Global Commission on the Economics of Water, supported by the OECD.
100 million farmers: Breakthrough models for financing a sustainability transition
Report proposes financing and collaboration models to accelerate adoption of regenerative agriculture. It identifies economic, technical and social barriers farmers face and outlines coordinated mechanisms—combining ecosystem-service monetisation, blended capital and multi-actor partnerships—to scale sustainable food production and support farmers’ transition.