Agro Based Industries

TEEBAgriFood Implementation Project

Centre for Responsible Business (CRB) has partnered with The Capitals Coalition as the implementation partner for the project TEEBAgriFood, funded by European Union. TEEB for Agriculture & Food (TEEBAgriFood) project aims to protect biodiversity and contribute to a more sustainable agriculture and food sector. CRB’s goal is to engage with the agri-business networks in India & communicate the project’s work to relevant businesses and offer insights and perspectives into the project as it progresses.

Stubble Up (Agri-residue Utilisation)

In 2017-18, CRB along with partner MVO Nederland, under the Indo-Dutch CSR & Sustainability Forum (INDUS-Forum) project has undertaken a study entitled, ‘Exploring Possibilities of Transforming Agriculture Residue into Wood Composite in India’ (referred to as Stubble Up). The objective of the study was to explore the feasibility of converting crop residue to composite boards – a technology that exists in India but doesn’t seem to have attained significant commercial status. The research was a mix of secondary research and interaction with various key players, industry experts, government representatives, corporate and manufacturers.

Exploring the business case for Utilisation of Agro-residue as raw material for Composite Panel in India

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improving uptake of sustainable palm oil in india

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Work with Rainforest Alliance (RA)

India is the world’ largest consumer of palm oil accounting more than half of the 70% imports of edible oils. Yet, the progress made in palm oil sustainability in the present decade has not been driven by companies with a view specific to the Indian market. To understand the possible reasons and better assess how to change this situation and drive demand for sustainable palm oil in the world’s largest market, Rainforest Alliance (RA) commissioned Centre for Responsible Business (CRB) to analyze the Indian market and identify issues, actors and conditions that can act as ‘triggers’ for promoting sustainable palm oil uptake in India.

Sustainable Palm Oil in India

Since 2018, CRB has been working with Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) to understand challenges & opportunities for market transformation towards sustainable palm oil in India. This has involved engaging with FMCG companies (users) in India to understand the ‘business case’ for uptake of sustainable palm oil. As a result, this has created better buying for promoting sustainable palm oil among a few Indian & MNC FMCG players. CRB continues to engage and set other FMCGs onboard as well. Further, CRB has developed IEC material to engage consumers (especially targeting the millennial) to enhance demand sustainable palm oil usage in FMCG/household products. Both traditional and social media has been used to create buzz on the issue among the wider stakeholders.

FOLU India CREST

Action Coalition for Responsible Sourcing & Trade of Commodities

FOLU India has launched its first action coalition in India. This action coalition brings together four organisations, viz. Centre for Responsible Business (CRB), IDH – The Sustainable Trade Initiative India, WWF India, and World Resource Institute India (WRI India). The action coalition has been named as Food and Land Use India (FOLU India) Action Coalition for Responsible Sourcing & Trade of Commodities (in short FOLU India CREST).

The Vision of the Action Coalition is to advance efforts on responsible sourcing and sustainable production, leveraging India’s pivotal position in global agricultural and forest commodities trade. The coalition will aim to work on one hand in building the demand and uptake of responsibly sourced commodities, on the other hand it will seek to enable and strengthen sustainable agricultural production and supply of responsibly sourced commodities to the domestic and international markets. The main objective of the coalition will remain to lead India’s stewardship in global trade and to share learnings with exporter countries (countries export agricultural and forest related products to India) through international forums and to enable these countries to also follow a similar responsible sourcing vision. Read more here

Alliance of Cotton & Textile Stakeholders on Regenerative Agriculture (ACRE)

The Alliance of Cotton and Textile Stakeholders on Regenerative Agriculture (ACRE) was formally launched on 29 November 2022. This multi-stakeholder platform, developed by the Centre for Responsible Business, regenagri and Solidaridad, will promote regenerative cotton farming practices in India.It will enable Stakeholders along the cotton and textile value chain to embrace nature -friendly regenerative farming, to benefit farmers, regenerate natural systems and combat climate change.

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FPO Industry Partnership on Sustainable Development Goals

The Framework underscores the importance of smallholders in Indian agriculture, advocating for their integration into value chains and access to global and national markets, fostering sustainable practices and improving internal processes. The Framework launched in May 2023 has been co-Developed by CRB and IFHD and jointly developed by experts and practitioners. It aims to enhance FPOs’ engagement with market actors through SDG-based performance assessment. FPOs are encouraged to self-assess using indicators based on the SDGs National Indicators Framework of India. Pilot projects will refine the framework, with partnerships sought from organizations experienced in working with smallholders and farming communities.

Factsheet on Agro Based Industries

Agro-based industries refer to those industries that derive their raw materials from agricultural produce such as cotton, jute, sugar, edible oil, etc. These industries are directly or indirectly linked with agriculture and may be of several types such as textile, sugar, food processing, etc. with immense potential for growth, employment generation and impact. India is also the second largest producer of sugar and tea in the world, the latter industry employing over 2 million people in the country. The importance of the agricultural and allied products is noted in the fact that exports of these products stood at USD 41.25 billion in 2020-21.

This Factsheet provides an overview of CRB’s initiatives and activities in the field of Agro Based Industries and the way forward.