FAIRR Initiative

🌱 There is less than a week to go until the New Food Conference, hosted by ProVeg International International in Berlin! Dana Wilson, Senior ESG Analyst at FAIRR, will speak in a panel discussion on investment trends in the #PlantBased and #AlternativeProteins sector, and how investors can help to accelerate innovation. She will be joined by Albrecht Wolfmeyer, Director of ProVeg Incubator, Fabio Ziemssen, Partner at ZINTINUS, and Nicolaus Norden, VC at FoodLabs. 📅 3 September ⏰ 4:15 - 4:45 CEST 📍 Spreespeicher, Berlin Register to attend ➡️ https://lnkd.in/dswsvC8 #NewFoodConference2024

📣 REPORT LAUNCH: FAIRR is pleased to share the release of ‘Health & Wealth: An Investor’s Guide to Antimicrobial Resistance’, in partnership with the IAAMR initiative and the MSCI Sustainability Institute. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), caused by the overuse and misuse of antibiotics, is a growing global public health crisis. It also poses systemic risks to investors: it is estimated that almost 10% of global equity markets are exposed to AMR-related risks. 🚨 The report cautions that the current state of innovation and funding is insufficient to meet this escalating challenge. However, it highlights that investors are uniquely positioned to leverage their influence to protect societies, economies, and the long-term value of their portfolios. The report acts as a guide for investors navigating the issue of #AMR, and includes relevant case studies on investor stewardship and engagement. Read it here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/dJpWwGk9 

⚠️ 50% of the world’s biggest livestock companies could be running at a loss by 2030 because of climate-related costs. Isobel Rosen, Investor Outreach Senior Analyst at FAIRR, recently spoke to Mike Scott for Reuters about the risks facing investors in the food industry. She warned that impacts of #ClimateChange threaten to turn many agricultural investments into liabilities, as the industry reckons with transition costs and extreme weather events like flooding, heatwaves, and drought. Drawing on research conducted by FAIRR, she added that the livestock sector in particular “still lags in its understanding of its impacts, risks and dependencies on nature”, with complacency and a lack of comprehensive strategies. Read the full article ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/eeWYNZPN

FAIRR is pleased to welcome Natasha S. to the team! Natasha joins FAIRR as the Interim Director of Thematic Research and Corporate Innovation, overseeing investor engagement and research in areas such as antimicrobial resistance, biodiversity, and climate. Alongside a passion for all types of #ClimateFinance, Natasha holds extensive international experience in capital markets and sustainable investing across Europe and North America. Find out more about Natasha’s background on our website ➡️ https://lnkd.in/e6c3x_M6

“Some of the risks associated with the global food system are the most difficult to shift policy on, and FAIRR has demonstrated a willingness to tackle some of these very complex issues” - Alexander Burr, ESG Policy Lead, Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM). Since joining FAIRR in 2019, LGIM has collaborated with the FAIRR policy team on two investor statements urging policymakers to facilitate the transition to a more sustainable global #FoodSystem. 🌾 One of these, the G20 Agricultural Subsidies investor statement, provided the forum for a collective investor voice to raise the issue of subsidies as a market failure. Although LGIM also engages on policy individually, being a member of FAIRR has created valuable opportunities for collaboration: “FAIRR convenes like-minded investors who advocate for more coherent policy and regulation in different areas of the food sector. Such a collective approach has been impactful in influencing policymakers and advancing policy objectives.” Learn more about LGIM’s stewardship activities with FAIRR’s policy workstream ➡️ https://lnkd.in/evEuQCiV

“There is great potential for this innovative approach to transform agricultural practices” 🪸 FAIRR’s latest Insight shows how seaweed biostimulants could significantly reduce synthetic fertiliser usage and nitrogen phosphorus pollution in the UK. Laure Boissat, Senior ESG Analyst at FAIRR, recently joined WWF-UK on a visit to a Norfolk seaweed farm as part of WWF’s Wholescape Programme, funded by the Co-op Foundation via their Carbon Innovation Fund. Laure highlights that #seaweed has real potential to support the shift towards #RegenerativeFarming, and seaweed-based products could capture a substantial share of the agricultural inputs market. Read more 👉 https://lnkd.in/ezWASJb3

We are delighted to have Heroad Investments (China) join our $70 trillion investor network! FAIRR continues to support the investment community with data and analysis on the financially material risks in global protein supply chains. Join us! Find the full list of our members on our website at: https://lnkd.in/ebFG_KFw

FAIRR is pleased to welcome Declan Revell to the team! Declan joins FAIRR as an ESG Analyst Intern in the Coller FAIRR Protein Producer Index team, focusing on the development of the Index methodology. He brings a strong mix of qualitative and quantitative research skills, having previously worked as Commodities Analyst at Nestlé, where he completed a four month project assessing the risks posed by #ClimateChange to the coffee industry. Learn more about Declan’s background on our website ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eUXneZYY

The overconsumption of animal proteins in Western markets is driving climate change and biodiversity loss 🌳 It is also linked to the rise in non-communicable diseases like type II diabetes, coronary heart disease, and cancer 🏥 Shifting diets to encompass more #PlantBased and #AlternativeProtein sources is essential to reduce these public health risks and create a more sustainable food system. However, FAIRR’s research finds that food companies are neglecting the role of diverse protein sources in building the industry’s resilience. Analysis from Phase 1 of the Protein Diversification engagement indicated that amongst 20 of the largest food retailers and manufacturers: ➡️ Only 15% include protein diversification targets in their climate strategies. ➡️ 95% overlook the supply chain implications of protein diversification. ➡️ Although, 80% recognise that they have a responsibility to drive consumer demand for sustainable and healthy products. Read the report 👉 https://lnkd.in/dNQd9AHY Learn about FAIRR’s Protein Diversification engagement 👉 https://lnkd.in/dtiVGf3P

“FAIRR stands out as a leading global institution with deep expertise and sector coverage, aligning thoroughly with our fund's objectives.” - Frank Tsui, Managing Director and Head of ESG Investment at Value Partners Group. Value Partners joined FAIRR as a member in 2023, following the launch of their Asian Food and Nutrition Fund. They found that the Coller FAIRR Protein Producer Index was particularly valuable in providing a ‘robust’ assessment methodology for evaluating protein producers on key #ESG issues: “This tool is unique in terms of its depth and coverage of companies within our portfolio.” Value Partners have since leveraged FAIRR’s research and assessment frameworks to engage with companies on issues from #biodiversity to responsible antibiotic use 🌏 This has included participating in FAIRR’s Waste and Pollution engagement, working with pork and poultry producers to address nature and climate risks 🐖 Learn more about how FAIRR has supported Value Partners 👇 https://lnkd.in/gc27MbRv