The global food system must be fundamentally transformed to operate within planetary boundaries and to enable human wellbeing. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) recognize the vital role of companies in achieving the goals, including mitigating the sector’s harmful impacts on human and planetary health and supporting broader SDG achievement.

Current sustainability frameworks, standards, reporting, and certifications do not sufficiently support or measure SDG alignment of the food sector; indeed, even as corporate sustainability efforts increase, corporate alignment with the SDGs continues to face fundamental challenges.

This session will take stock of a range of initiatives to support SDG alignment of the food sector, and to promote the rigorous discussion, assessment, reporting and action that is needed to support the necessary transformations.

It is in this spirit that we invite all food companies that are ready to play their part in contributing to transforming the food systems within their sphere of influence, to join us in this discussion.

AGENDA

Opening: Barbara Buchner, Global Managing Director, Climate Policy Initiative

Aiming at a concrete food systems transformation: Guido Barilla, Chairman Barilla Group and Barilla Foundation

Food companies practices leading the way to the SDGs achievement: Jeffrey Sachs, President, UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN); Lead, Fixing the Business of Food Initiative

Panel Discussion – Food companies’ practices leading the way to the SDGs achievement:

• Valérie Bizier, Office of Chief Statistician, Food and Agriculture Organization
• Viktoria de Bourbon de Parme, Food Transformation Lead, WBA
• Diane Holdorf, Managing Director of Food & Nature, WBCSD
• Peter Schmidt, Head of international and European affairs of the Food, Beverages and Catering Union (NGG); President of Delegation, Joint Conference of the Observatories of EESC

Conclusions: Barbara Buchner