INFASA’s progress and potential

The International Forum on Assessing Sustainability inAgriculture (INFASA) was established by the InternationalInstitute for Sustainable Development and the Swiss College ofAgriculture in 2006 as a multi-year forum to advance sustainableagriculture through the development and effective use of indica-tor and assessment systems.

INFASA aims to advance sustainable agricultural production byfacilitating an ongoing, strategic dialogue among scientists, pol-icy-makers, producers, food industry leaders and consumers. Weexpect that this forum will lead to a convergence of ideas, policypositions and practices on what sustainability means in agricul-ture, how it is measured, and how the knowledge generated canpromote sustainable agriculture.

Background: Understanding the challenge

◆ Projections of global population growth, inequitable fooddistribution and increasing environmental pressures—suchas water scarcity and climate change—increasingly highlightthe need for secure and sustainable agricultural production.

◆ Sustainable agricultural practices can only be implementedwhen appropriate information is readily available to deci-sion-makers.

◆ Thus, information tools in the form of sustainability assess-ment systems are being developed. Increasingly utilized atfarm, corporate and public policy levels, these efforts prom-ise to make agricultural production more sustainable.

◆ The challenge is no longer limited to developing new indica-tor and assessment tools. It is also understanding how exist-ing tools and methods work in practice; how the differenttools and methods can co-exist; and how once-experimentaltools and methods can enter mainstream use.

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A Dialogue on Sustainable Agricultureinfasa

Sustainable Agriculture: From commonprinciples to common practice

INFASA’s vision is sustainable

worldwide agriculture where all

stakeholders can get timely,

accurate insight into the degree

of sustainability of agricultural

production, products and serv-

ices.

INFASA’s mission is to promote

the development and broad

application of standardized

tools for holistic sustainability

assessments in agriculture to

enable faster and more wide-

spread implementation of sus-

tainable agriculture worldwide.

Infasabrochure.qx 11/14/07 9:39 AM Page 1

INFASA debuted with a Symposium in Bern,Switzerland, on March 16–17, 2006, hosting a group ofactual and potential users of indicator and assessmentsystems, and evaluation system specialists. A uniqueaspect of the Symposium was the combination of mul-tiple perspectives, including those held by policy-mak-ers, corporations, farmers, NGOs and researchers. Thekey topics and conclusions of the Symposium were:

◆ Coordination and working towards transparentand standardized approaches for sustainabilityassessment across all stakeholders and scales

– We need to work towards more transparentand standardized measurement and assess-ment approaches among the various developerand user groups, from the farm through thepolicy level to business and consumers.

– There is a need to tailor additional measuresthat reflect specific local conditions or userneeds.

– INFASA should consider, in its next phase, afocus on launching an international process toagree on common Criteria and Indicators forsustainable agriculture.

◆ Measurement and assessment tools

– We must address trade-offs between complex-ity and manageability, emphasizing the needfor simple, visually clear, robust and transpar-ent systems that users can easily understand.

– We see measurement tool development anduse not only as a technical exercise, but one inwhich stakeholder participation is critical.

– It is important to balance standardization andcomparability with specific (local) needs.

– We must address the demand for holisticapproaches—including the social domain—while accepting the need for simplicity.

◆ Linkages to policy

– The policy arenas within which indicators andassessment have a role to play are diverse andincreasing in importance, due to the need fora stronger evidence base.

– Important policy areas include the evaluationof sustainability impact along the supply chainand the verification in sustainability certifica-tion and standards schemes.

– Strengthening the evidence base will also becritical for any progress on the economic val-uation of agriculture-related externalities,including ecosystem goods and services.

◆ Farm-level applications

– Producer- and industry-level measures needto have their policy equivalents.

– Commodity-focused approaches need to becomplemented by overall farm assessmentsthat take all aspects of a farming operationand the complexity of sustainability intoaccount.

– There is a need for practical, farm-level meas-urement approaches that produce results atthe level of production systems and specificfarming practices. To facilitate this, measure-ment and tools should be embedded in farmplanning and management systems to addvalue, and to enable farmers to turn generalsustainability concepts into action.

– The need for farm level monitoring and indi-cators can arise due to government require-ments and expectations by business, but arealso driven by the farmers’ own interest.

INFASA’s future direction buithe first Symposium, backgrdevelopment and role of cIndicator systems, as well as thmon ground with other majordesigned to address the way soable development progress.

INFASA will act as a catalyst inguage to address sustainabilitywill enable a focus on the varment tools required to effectivagriculture as well as on the dareas of action are depicted on

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INFASA Symposium: A spirit of dialogue The future of INFAS

Infasabrochure.qx 11/14/07 9:38 AM Page 2

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INFASA’s future direction builds on the results fromthe first Symposium, background research on thedevelopment and role of common Criteria andIndicator systems, as well as the intention to seek com-mon ground with other major international initiativesdesigned to address the way societies measure sustain-able development progress.

INFASA will act as a catalyst in finding a common lan-guage to address sustainability issues in agriculture. Itwill enable a focus on the various types of measure-ment tools required to effectively promote sustainableagriculture as well as on the data needed. Possible keyareas of action are depicted on the diagram below.

Towards a common understanding of sustainable agri-culture

As a basis for INFASA’s activities, a working definitionof sustainable agriculture is used. Introduced at thepast Symposium, it is based on the Brundtland defini-tion of sustainable development (WCED 1987) andthe SAI Platform’s definition of sustainable agricul-ture, and has been adapted and augmented by furtherdimensions (Häni et al. 2003)1:

Sustainable agriculture adopts productive, competi-tive and efficient practices, while protecting andimproving the environment and the global ecosys-tem, as well as the socio-economic conditions of localcommunities in line with human dignity.

Anticipated INFA

◆

November

Book/CD launch (the proSympos

◆

Early 20

Conduct survey of s

◆

May 20

Co-host a side event atCommission on Sustainab

partners dealing wi

◆

Mid-20

Launch database of exiand to

◆

Late 20

Second INFASA Symposithe use of th

1 Häni, F., F. Braga, A. Stämpand H. Porsche, 2003, “RISESustainability Assessment at International Food and AgrReview. Vol. 6(4):78–90.

Measurement and tools

Data

Compilation ofexisting tools

and application area

Capacity buildingon their use

Guideline fordevelopmentof new tools

Criteria and indicatorsof SA

Towardscommon

definition of SA

Availability,collection cost,

quality, comparability

Dis

sem

inat

ion

of t

oo

ls a

nd

info

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All stakeholders of the food chain – from farm to consumers, policy-makers, science, etc.

The future of INFASA

Infasabrochure.qx 11/14/07 9:46 AM Page 2

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INFASA’s progres

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INFASA aims to advfacilitating an ongoiicy-makers, produceexpect that this forupositions and practiture, how it is measupromote sustainable

Background: Und

◆ Projections of gdistribution andas water scarcitythe need for sec

◆ Sustainable agriwhen appropriasion-makers.

◆ Thus, informatiment systems afarm, corporate ise to make agri

◆ The challenge istor and assessming tools and mtools and methotools and metho

What measurement tools and practices are needed bythe various stakeholders?

A global survey will be conducted among stakeholdersto assess what measurement tools and practices theyare already using, how they are using them and whattheir emerging needs are. This research is intended tobetter define the purpose of the measurement toolsand practices, and provide a preliminary gap assess-ment. Special attention will be paid to tools needed forensuring sustainable agricultural products can beclearly recognized.

What are the most prominent and promising measure-ment tools and practices in use?

Building on the results of the first INFASASymposium, we will create and maintain an informa-tion base of the most innovative measurement toolsand practices either currently in use or that have sig-nificant potential to be used more broadly. This com-pilation will serve both to monitor best practices andto ensure we can take these into account when formu-lating INFASA’s strategies and activities.

How can we improve the use of measurement tools?

Measurement tools should help assess the sustainabil-ity of agricultural products and practices. How can weoptimize the use of these tools in various contexts?Dialogue among the various stakeholders along thefood chain will facilitate the exchange of best practicesas well as foster common views on measurement andindicators. In addition, gaps would be identified in theuse of available tools and the need for developing newor improved ones. This step could be presented duringthe next Symposium in order to share concrete pre-liminary results and gather further inputs.

What guidance can we offer for developing the nextgeneration of sustainability measurement tools?

As agricultural sustainability issues evolve and infor-mation technology advances, new measurement toolsare needed and can be created. How can we measurethe carbon footprint of agriculture? How can we make

use of new geospatial information and capabilities?Building on our understanding of best practices, their use and gaps in knowledge, INFASA aims to developguidelines for, and coordinate the development of, thenext generation of innovative measurement tools thathave a higher potential for use and diffusion to a widerange of user communities.

How can we strengthen the data underpinning agricul-tural sustainability measurement?

A regular flow of good quality data is essential forassessing the sustainability of agriculture, regardless ofthe measurement tool used. Data collection should bedone in the most economical way while ensuring goodquality and standardization. INFASA could partnerwith organizations like OECD,2 FAO or GEOSS3 tolook into the economics of data management andexplore how data obtained through field-level moni-toring and global observation systems can be com-bined to meet the practical needs of the agriculturesector. Traceability of food is now often required bylegislation as well as by consumers. A special area ofwork could be opened to tackle the issues surroundingthe data requirements linked to traceability.

How can we use demonstration projects and promotecapacity building?

Understanding capacity constraints and effective waysof tackling them is essential for mainstreaming, andwill be integrated as a theme into INFASA’s activitiesand events. The effective use of new and/or existingtools and methods could be introduced throughdemonstration projects, focused either at the farm,commodity or supply chain level, or a combination,complemented with capacity building/learning eventsto facilitate mainstreaming.

2 http://www.oecd.org/department/0,3355,en_2649_33795_1_1_1_1_1,00.html; http://www.oecd.org/site/0,3407,en_21571361_31938349_1_1_1_1_1,00.html

3 http://www.earthobservations.org/index.html

A in

Sustainable Aprinciples to c

The Next Phase of INFASA: Key questions to consider

Infasabrochure.qx 11/14/07 9:39 AM Page 1

results fromarch on theCriteria and to seek com-nal initiativessure sustain-

common lan-griculture. It of measure-e sustainable. Possible keym below.

Towards a common understanding of sustainable agri-culture

As a basis for INFASA’s activities, a working definitionof sustainable agriculture is used. Introduced at thepast Symposium, it is based on the Brundtland defini-tion of sustainable development (WCED 1987) andthe SAI Platform’s definition of sustainable agricul-ture, and has been adapted and augmented by furtherdimensions (Häni et al. 2003)1:

Sustainable agriculture adopts productive, competi-tive and efficient practices, while protecting andimproving the environment and the global ecosys-tem, as well as the socio-economic conditions of localcommunities in line with human dignity.

Anticipated INFASA Milestones

◆

November 2007:

Book/CD launch (the proceedings of the 2006Symposium)

◆

Early 2008:

Conduct survey of stakeholder needs

◆

May 2008:

Co-host a side event at the United NationsCommission on Sustainable Development with

partners dealing with related issues

◆

Mid-2008:

Launch database of existing measurement and tools

◆

Late 2008:

Second INFASA Symposium: How to optimizethe use of the tools?

1 Häni, F., F. Braga, A. Stämpfli, T. Keller, M. Fischer and H. Porsche, 2003, “RISE, a Tool for HolisticSustainability Assessment at the Farm Level,”International Food and Agribusiness ManagementReview. Vol. 6(4):78–90.

Measurement and tools

Data

Compilation ofexisting tools

and application area

Capacity buildingon their use

Guideline fordevelopmentof new tools

Availability,collection cost,

quality, comparability

Dis

sem

inat

ion

of t

oo

ls a

nd

info

rmat

ion

he food chain – from farm to consumers, policy-makers, science, etc.

Infasabrochure.qx 11/14/07 9:39 AM Page 2

László Pintér, Director Measurement and AssessmentInternational Institute for SustainableDevelopment161 Portage Avenue East, 6th FloorWinnipeg, ManitobaCanada R3B 0Y4Tel.: +1 (204) 958-7700Fax: +1 (204) 958-7710http://www.iisd.orglpinter@iisd.ca

Fritz J. Häni, Professor of Plant Protection,Head of Agroecology ProgramSwiss College of AgricultureLänggasse 85CH-3052 ZollikofenSwitzerlandTel.: +41 (0)31 910 21 11Fax: +41 (0)31 910 22 99http://www.shl.bfh.chhttp://rise.shl.bfh.chFritz.Haeni@shl.bfh.ch

We acknowledge the ongoing generous sup-port of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada(AAFC).

For more information, see:http://www.iisd.org/measure/connecting/infasa/

What measurement tools and practices are needed bythe various stakeholders?

A global survey will be conducted among stakeholdersto assess what measurement tools and practices theyare already using, how they are using them and whattheir emerging needs are. This research is intended tobetter define the purpose of the measurement toolsand practices, and provide a preliminary gap assess-ment. Special attention will be paid to tools needed forensuring sustainable agricultural products can beclearly recognized.

What are the most prominent and promising measure-ment tools and practices in use?

Building on the results of the first INFASASymposium, we will create and maintain an informa-tion base of the most innovative measurement toolsand practices either currently in use or that have sig-nificant potential to be used more broadly. This com-pilation will serve both to monitor best practices andto ensure we can take these into account when formu-lating INFASA’s strategies and activities.

How can we improve the use of measurement tools?

Measurement tools should help assess the sustainabil-ity of agricultural products and practices. How can weoptimize the use of these tools in various contexts?Dialogue among the various stakeholders along thefood chain will facilitate the exchange of best practicesas well as foster common views on measurement andindicators. In addition, gaps would be identified in theuse of available tools and the need for developing newor improved ones. This step could be presented duringthe next Symposium in order to share concrete pre-liminary results and gather further inputs.

What guidance can we offer for developing the nextgeneration of sustainability measurement tools?

As agricultural sustainability issues evolve and infor-mation technology advances, new measurement toolsare needed and can be created. How can we measurethe carbon footprint of agriculture? How can we make

use of new geospatial informationBuilding on our understanding of buse and gaps in knowledge, INFASAguidelines for, and coordinate the denext generation of innovative measuhave a higher potential for use and drange of user communities.

How can we strengthen the data undtural sustainability measurement?

A regular flow of good quality daassessing the sustainability of agriculthe measurement tool used. Data codone in the most economical way whquality and standardization. INFASwith organizations like OECD,2 FAlook into the economics of data explore how data obtained throughtoring and global observation systebined to meet the practical needs sector. Traceability of food is now legislation as well as by consumers.work could be opened to tackle the ithe data requirements linked to trac

How can we use demonstration projcapacity building?

Understanding capacity constraints of tackling them is essential for mawill be integrated as a theme into Iand events. The effective use of netools and methods could be intdemonstration projects, focused eicommodity or supply chain level, ocomplemented with capacity buildinto facilitate mainstreaming.

2 http://www.oecd.org/department/0,3351_1_1_1,00.html; http://www.oecd.org/sit_31938349_1_1_1_1_1,00.html

3 http://www.earthobservations.org/index

The Next Phase of INFASA: Key questions to consider

Infasabrochure.qx 11/14/07 9:38 AM Page 1