"Ceres and the PRI Join Forces to Tackle Tropical Deforestation," 11 Nov 2016

Ceres and the PRI announced today a new partnership to tackle widespread, global deforestation driven by escalating production of beef, soy and timber, focusing initially on South America. Through a new, joint investor group, the two organizations will support global institutional investors pressing food and timber companies to eliminate deforestation and other related concerns, including forced labor and land rights disputes from their supply chains. The announcement was made at…COP22…Converting forests to pasture for beef cattle, primarily in Latin America, destroys 2.7 million hectares of tropical forests each year…Agribusinesses that source from companies engaged in deforestation and related unlawful activities…face potential risks…These business risks can in turn impact investor portfolios…[A]ctivities planned by the new global investor group over the next two years:

• Map and develop a set of indicators for evaluating beef, soy and timber companies’ sourcing policies and their impact on deforestation…
• Benchmark 50 to 60 companies…against the indicators.
• Based on benchmarking results, engage with low-scoring companies…
• Engage in public policy advocacy…

[Also refers to Archer Daniels Midland, ConAgra, Domino’s Pizza, and Dunkin’ Donuts.]