Business Responsibility in Realizing the Human Right to Food

Addressing food security in the production stage of the agriculture supply chain requires the participation and collaboration of the state, local communities, trade unions, civil society, as well as private businesses. However, there remains confusion regarding the extent of businesses' responsibility and the actions necessary to fulfil this duty.

Details

Businesses shall align with international frameworks and due diligence obligations. Businesses shall take responsibility for their operation and their area of influence and address the adverse actual and potential impacts individually or in collaboration with other stakeholders.

Certification schemes can be utilized in the overall process of the due diligence system. They support risk identification by assessing risks through defined requirements and support in risk management and monitoring by defining prevention measures and indicators to track their progress. Additionally, companies can use the certification and audit results for their transparent reporting. The Food Security Standard (FSS) was developed to support agricultural production businesses in fulfilling their human rights due diligence responsibilities, particularly concerning their impact on respecting the right to food. It is especially beneficial for businesses operating in high food security risk areas.