DELTA PROJECT ISEAL Metrics Workshop Sept. 10th, 2020 - Delta Framework - ISEAL Alliance

DELTA PROJECT
ISEAL Metrics Workshop
Sept. 10th, 2020

                         Delta
                         Framework

❖ Delta Project Introduction

❖ Alignment challenges & solutions

❖ Technical challenges & considerations

                                          Delta
                                          Framework

Delta Project introduction
Key info

 Project’s aim: Bridging the gap in measuring and
 reporting sustainability performance for the benefit
 of both ends of the value chain
 Funded by ISEAL Innovation Fund for 3 years
 (Inception phase Q4-2018, and until Sept. 2021)
 Partners: BCI, ICAC-SEEP, GCP, ICO.
 + Cotton 2040 Impact Metrics Alignment working
 group (TE, FT, OCA, CC, CA, CMiA)

Delta Project introduction
Rationale (1/2)

   Multiplication of labels / standards / certification
   schemes that all promote sustainability in key
   commodities
   Large multinationals develop their own sustainability
   frameworks

➢ Confusion of end-consumers and other stakeholders,
➢ Lack of transparency and credibility,
➢ Impossibility to aggregate sustainability performance
  data at commodity or sector level.

Delta Project introduction
Rationale (2/2)

Besides, current approaches to measure sustainability:

   Are not well-adapted to the agricultural sector
   Do not effectively monitor change over time
   Do not give insight into benefits (especially socio-
   economic)
   May lead to unintended, harmful burden-shifting
   (e.g. from irrigated country to rainfed, or from
   natural to synthetic fibers)

Delta Project introduction
Components & Value proposition (1/3)

1.   Develop a Sustainability Framework: impact
     indicators, guiding principles and data
     standardization
     ➢ For the sustainability community: common
       language on sustainability across agricultural
       commodity sectors

Delta Project introduction
Components & Value proposition (2/3)

2.   Link sustainability performance to business actors
     and governments: method and guidance
     ➢ For companies & private sector: standardised
       sustainability information to
       customers/stakeholders, simplified data
       consolidation, consistent data collection &
       reporting on key indicators
     ➢ For government & public sector: SDG
       commitments reporting, evidence-based decision
       making for agricultural policies & services

Delta Project introduction
Components & Value proposition (2/2)

3.   Add value for producers:
     ❖ Feedback performance data to farmers,
     ❖ Contextualise data by establishing links to
       open data sources (e.g. weather, market
       information),
     ❖ Enhance the development of farmer-centred
       services (e.g. extension services, finance,
       insurance, etc.)
     ➢ For farmers: better learning and decision
       making, (improved) access to services

List of challenges

  Alignment challenges:
   ❖ Different scopes and approaches
   ❖ Different organisational structures
   ❖ Basic definitions not harmonized
   ❖ Debates on tools
   ❖ Competing interests from different
       stakeholders
  Technical challenges:
    ❖ Data governance & privacy
    ❖ Common definitions
    ❖ Data schema
    ❖ Ownership after the framework is released

Alignment challenges & solutions

Different scopes and approaches:
 ➢ Refer to the SDGs
 ➢ Agree on common sustainability goals

Different organisational structures:
 ➢ Assess potential indicators according to their
     relevance, usefulness and feasibility
 ➢ Integrate the indicators in regular M&E systems,
     with limited additional resources & costs
 ➢ Give precise guidance on data analysis,
     interpretation and reporting
 ➢ Leave data collection approach up to each
     organization but establish data quality
     requirements

Alignment challenges & solutions

Basic definitions not harmonized (e.g. calendar year vs
harvest year for data collection & reporting)
 ➢ Agree on general definitions to ensure data
     comparability & potential aggregation

Ongoing debates on tools (e.g. GhG calculators):
 ➢ Not prescriptive on specific tools, only provide
    recommendations
 ➢ Guidance on requested scope & minimum requirements
    for the tools to be used

Interests of Retailers/Brands for communication purposes vs
learning for farmers
  ➢ Develop data use cases for several categories of stakeholders
  ➢ Component 3 of the project – Ensure tangible added value
     for farmers from data

Technical Challenges & considerations

Data governance – Ensure proper data privacy while
triggering exchange and cross learning:
  ❖ Aggregation levels, confidentiality and
     anonymization
  ❖ How to guarantee GDPR compliance?

Common definitions and data schema:
 ❖ Balance in addressing informational and technical
   requirements
 ❖ Ensuring adaptability

Framework established – and now?
  ❖ Global data warehouse for exchange and analysis
  ❖ Roles, responsibilities, ownership and cost ?

Technical Challenges & considerations

Join our discussions in the current phase on:
 ❖ Data governance
 ❖ Common definitions and data schema

Discuss in the community on how to operationalise and
technically showcase results:
 ❖ Global data warehouse – shared technical
   resource
 ❖ Roles, responsibilities, ownership and cost

Thank you!
Questions?

Do you have any input or ideas?

Would you like to participate?

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