• The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and EAT Foundation are partnering to accelerate the transformation towards a healthy and sustainable global food system
• The partnership creates an inclusive global initiative bringing together stakeholders across science, business, government, and civil society to formulate science-based targets and develop business solutions
• The partnership was launched at the EAT Stockholm Food Forum on 14 June 2016.
This global initiative will bring together stakeholders across science, business, government and civil society in order to form science-based targets for the food system, and develop scalable business solutions to achieve those targets.
Food production is the single biggest contributor to climate change, accounting for nearly 30 percent of all human-caused GHG emissions. It causes loss of biodiversity, deforestation, freshwater pollution and the depletion of marine ecosystems.
Dr. Gunhild A. Stordalen, the Founder and President of EAT Foundation, stated that she was excited to announce this powerful partnership together with Peter Bakker, President and CEO of WBCSD, at the 3rd annual EAT Stockholm Food Forum.
“WBCSD has an impressive and proven track record in creating global platforms that mobilize business on critical sustainability issues. Our partnership will build upon this expertise, bringing new stakeholders to the table on food, and forming new alliances that can deliver the solutions that are urgently needed.” Dr Stordalen said.
Peter Bakker said that COP21 drove unprecedented climate change mobilization from world leaders, commitments from government and solutions from business, and that a similar approach was needed for the food system.
“As the world population booms towards 9 billion in 2050, we urgently need to ensure the viability and health of our global food system. The EAT Foundation is blazing a trail that WBCSD is proud to be part of, bringing together the food 'conference of parties' that can deliver this goal.
“The initiative will drive high-impact business solutions that can address the new food science-based targets, helping us ensure a healthy and sustainable global food system and contributing towards the sustainable development goals. We invite all interested companies and partners from around the world to participate in this new and exciting initiative.” Mr Bakker said.
The academic networks of EAT and WBCSD will provide scientific input and validation, as well as capturing inputs to strategies and plans through multi-stakeholder workshops.
The initiative will present ongoing results each year through the EAT Stockholm Food Forum.
