Singapore, 25 October 2018: Today, the Global Agribusiness Alliance (GAA) announced the nomination of Mr Gaurav Dhawan, CEO of Phoenix , the world’s second largest rice-trader as its new Chair for 2019.
On taking up his new role, Mr Dhawan said “Agribusinesses have a crucial role to play in embedding sustainable policies and practices to safeguard our shared resources and strengthen rural livelihoods. As a global agribusiness company, Phoenix is committed to adopting climate-smart agriculture and in finding practical solutions to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases. Working collectively with other stakeholders and peers, Phoenix is determined to take the lead on sustainability in the agri-business sector. The GAA is a key convener and platform for action and engagement and I am honored to take on the role of Chair for 2019. I look forward to working with all the members to strengthen our voice and positive contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”
Stepping-up as Vice-Chair for 2019 is Arif Rachmat, CEO of Triputra Agro Persada.
Launched at the end of 2016 at Olam International’s ‘Building Sustainable Future Forum’ in Singapore, the GAA has grown to a group of key supply-side companies who have come together to work in a pre-competitive space to strengthen their contribution to tackling shared challenges as well as make an additional contribution to the SDGs.
The GAA was born out of recognition that to-date the sustainable agriculture agenda has been driven by downstream retail consumer-facing brands. A more proactive input and leadership from the companies operating closest to the farm-gate was urgently needed to scale sustainable impact and outcomes on the ground.
The GAA tackles complex challenges relating to sustainable landscapes, smallholder livelihoods, water stewardship and post-harvest losses. As the lead for GAA’s water stewardship workstream, Phoenix and the GAA have been working collaboratively with the Alliance for Water Stewardship and local implementation partner the Centre for International Projects (Delhi) to develop a water stewardship catchment plan in Karnal in Haryana, India, where they source from 20,000 basmati rice farmers in an area at risk from fast-falling groundwater levels and worsening water quality.
For more information see http://globalagribusinessalliance.com
