Gotz Martin, head of sustainability implementation at Golden Agri-Resources, explains why food systems face a big problem if smallholder farming communities can’t become more resilient and escape endemic poverty traps. He outlines some of the factors necessary to achieve this. While strong palm oil prices can help in the short term, there are clear deforestation risks if the sector as a whole expands to meet demand.
Plus: new Greenpeace report slams forest certification schemes; 8bn drinks containers thrown away in the UK says CPRE; Oxfam research says big food and beverage companies unable to translate effectively global commitments to local level; and, shipping sector aims for $5bn zero emissions research fund, in the news roundup.