Advocacy and ESG

Advocacy

ISHS acknowledges and accepts the adverse impact that our food systems are having on the planet. Agriculture utilises 40% of the arable land and 70% of the world’s fresh water resources, produces one third of global greenhouse gas emissions and is a leading cause of the loss of biodiversity (EAT Lancet Commission, 2019): Food in the Anthropocene: the EAT–Lancet Commission on healthy diets from sustainable food systems – The Lancet.

A sustainable food system is one that delivers food security and nutrition for all in such a way that the economic, social and environmental bases that support food security and nutrition for future generations are not compromised. This implies that sustainable food systems are profitable throughout, they deliver broad-based benefits for society and there is a positive or neutral impact on the natural environment (FAO, 2018): Sustainable food systems: Concept and framework.

As the world’s leading independent organisation of horticulturists, ISHS has access to some of the most talented research scientists who are currently addressing the challenges that we collectively face:

• Responding to and mitigating the impacts of climate change
• Enhancing the more sustainable production of fresh fruit, vegetables and ornamental plants to minimise our environmental impact
• Promoting the role that fresh fruit and vegetables play in a healthy diet and the role that ornamental plants provide in our emotional and mental wellbeing
• Reducing our C footprint through minimising food losses and waste
• Addressing consumers’ concerns about the application and adoption of biotechnology

In the coming months, we will invite distinguished researchers to collaboratively write a number of monographs that address each of these issues. These monographs will outline the nature of the problem and demonstrate how horticulture can play a key role in mitigating or improving the issue for the benefit of both mankind and the planet. These monographs will be published as Scripta Horticulturae.

ESG

As sustainability becomes more mainstream, there is a growing expectation for organisations to report their environmental impact. Stakeholders are demanding that organisations are not only good stewards of financial capital, but also of natural and social capital, and that they have the necessary governance frameworks in place to support this.

ESG is an acronym for Environmental, Social and Governance. ESG is a holistic concept that describes an organisation’s capacity to create and sustain long-term value in a rapidly changing world, and to manage the risks and opportunities associated with these changes.

Under the environmental pillar, companies are expected to address their greenhouse gas emissions, air, water and ground pollution. Social factors refer to how an organisation manages it relationships with and creates value for its stakeholders.

Governance refers to an organisation’s leadership and management philosophy, practices, policies, internal controls, and shareholder rights.

In meeting society’s expectations, ISHS will voluntarily adopt the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards. These standards will enable ISHS to publicly disclose its most significant impacts on the economy, environment, and people, including impacts on their human rights and how we manage these impacts.