Post on 19-Mar-2021
DeltaFramework
DELTA PROJECT
ISEAL Metrics WorkshopSept. 10th, 2020
DeltaFramework
❖ Delta Project Introduction
❖ Alignment challenges & solutions
❖ Technical challenges & considerations
Delta Project introductionKey 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 introductionRationale (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 introductionRationale (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 introductionComponents & 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 introductionComponents & 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 introductionComponents & 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?
www.deltaframework.org