Knowledge for Development

Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (SAI) Platform

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Date: 16/08/2012

Introduction:

Food industries are the biggest purchasers of agricultural raw materials. In order to rely on a constant, increasing and safe supply of agricultural raw materials, these must be grown in a sustainable manner. In 2002 Nestlé, Unilever and Danone created the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (SAI) Platform, a non-profit organization to facilitate sharing, at precompetitive level, of knowledge and initiatives to support the development and implementation of sustainable agriculture practices involving the different stakeholders of the food chain. The SAI Platform today counts over 30 members, which actively share the same view on sustainable agriculture seen as a 'productive, competitive and efficient way to produce agricultural products, while at the same time protecting and improving the natural environment and social/economic conditions of local communities'. Among the latest services and deliverables produced, the SAI Platform published Principles and practices for the sustainable production of arable and vegetable crops, Principles and Practices for the sustainable production of Coffee, Fruit and Dairy; a Benchmark Study of Agriculture Standards and a Short Guide to Sustainable Agriculture.

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