24 May 2019: Participants at the Good Growth Conference agreed to promote sustainable production of agricultural commodities, with the aim of reducing tropical deforestation and enhancing sustainable growth.

Over 300 government, private sector and civil society representatives as well as farmers, producers and indigenous leaders participated in the Good Growth Conference, which convened in Lima, Peru, from 13-17 May. The event took place within the framework of the Good Growth Partnership, led by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in collaboration with UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation (IFC), Conservation International and the World Wildlife Fund. The Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Swiss State Secretariat of Economic Affairs (SECo) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) support the Partnership. The Partnership aims to “influence the way we produce, finance and demand food.”

According to UNDP, agricultural commodities are responsible for 70 percent of tropical deforestation globally. A recent report by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) found that more than 100 million hectares of tropical forests disappeared between 1980 and 2000. According to the GEF, more than 2 million hectares of forests were lost between 2001 and 2017 in the Peruvian Amazon, mainly as a result of migratory small-scale expansion. The IPBES report calls for “transformation to conserve, restore and use nature in a sustainable way to avoid planetary collapse.”

In an opening address, Peru’s President, Martin Vizcarra, called for “actions in the field” to tackle deforestation and biodiversity loss and address climate change. He stressed that “our responsibility as human beings is to … reverse this situation.” Peru’s agriculture commodities have contributed to the country’s economic growth and declining rate of poverty in recent decades. In Peru’s Chatuza district, for example, a local organic cocoa cooperative has contributed to the region’s poverty index decreasing from 68 to 28 points.

Participants called for innovative, strong collaboration to achieve systemic transformation in the agricultural commodities sector. They recognized the importance of champions to lead a change from business-as-usual (BAU) towards a more sustainable future. The Conference also discussed how approaches to demand, production and financing of sustainable commodities can support accelerated achievement of the SDGs, particularly SDG 1 (no poverty), SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth), SDG 13 (climate action) and SDG 15 (life on land).

The Conference also offered an opportunity for sharing knowledge on and experiences with agriculture commodities, with a view to promoting increased sustainability in the sector. Delegates participated in field visits in Peru’s San Martin region to understand how the country’s agricultural commodities are supporting sustainable growth and livelihoods. [UNDP Press Release] [GEF Press Release] [Good Growth Partnership Press Release] [Good Growth Partnership Website]