Summary of topics and results
The discussion session entitled “Zero hunger in agricultural production: Not yet a reality, but achievable! Working together for human rights in supply chains” brought together experts from various fields to discuss the challenges and opportunities in the realization of human rights in global supply chains on production level. The focus was on the human right to adequate food, whose violation frequently entails further human rights violations such as child labor due to its cross-cutting nature. Organized by Welthungerhilfe e. V. and Meo Carbon Solutions in cooperation with the law firm GvW Graf von Westphalen, the expert panel aimed to practically demonstrate the implementation possibilities of human rights due diligence obligations for companies using the Food Security Standard (FSS) and address the existing challenges.

In many countries of the Global South, that are producing agricultural commodities for the global market, hunger and malnutrition are still prevalent. Smallholder farmers and farm workers who produce flowers, tea, coffee, palm oil, and rubber are often affected by hunger and other human rights infringements. The FSS provides a toolbox to assist companies involved in such agricultural production chains to meet their social responsibility to by identifying, addressing and reporting human rights risks at cultivation level in accordance with current legislation. 

Dr. Rafaël Schneider, Deputy Head of the Policy Department at Welthungerhilfe, opened the event with an introduction to previous examples showcasing the application of the Food Security Standard and stressed the importance of the human right to food in agricultural production. Dr. Lothar Harings, a lawyer at GvW Graf von Westphalen, delivered a keynote speech on current legislative processes and the central role of practical tools such as the FSS in complying with human rights due diligence obligations. He stressed the fundamental nature of food security in human rights and its close connection to the right to life and health, pollution prevention, protection against forced evictions, and the prohibition of wage discrimination.

The lively discussion amongst the panelists offered concrete insights and practical experience of the FSS implementation. Lutz Hartmann shared his experience with the challenges in African agricultural production, especially on his 300-hectare fruit and vegetable farm in Ethiopia and talked about his work with VegBox Horticulture. He emphasized that the implementation of human rights due diligence is not simply a matter of compliance but rather a matter of establishing concrete ways of how to think and work in production, which also involves the restructuring of management processes. Alejandra Rueda Zarate, founder of NES Naturaleza Colombia offered insights into her work, for example on social sustainability through realizing sustainability standards in the agricultural supply chain in Colombia. Dr. Bettina Rudloff from the “Stiftung Wirtschaft & Politik” contributed scientific perspectives by highlighting the importance of the right to food and due diligence obligations in the agricultural and food sectors, referencing the report submitted by the WBAE to the BMEL on “New Due Diligence Obligations for Companies in the Agricultural and Food Sectors: Recommendations on Current Legislative Developments.” Dr. Jan Henke from Meo Carbon Solutions demonstrated that social standards represent an opportunity for downstream companies to make credible claims when equal standards are demanded from all producers, enabling evidence-based customer communication. While scaling up presents a long road ahead, it is a crucial step in the right direction.

In her closing address, Swantje Nilsson, Director-General for International Cooperation at the BMEL, stressed the importance of working together to overcome global hunger and to develop practical solutions. She also emphasized the coordinating role of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS), which develops policy recommendations and guidelines on a wide spectrum of topics related to food security and supports their implementation.

The panel discussion illustrated that ambitious goals like “Zero Hunger” begin with small and concrete applications, and taking the first step is essential. Collaboration in the supply chain, which fosters transparency and develops shared solutions, is a crucial element for the food security of smallholder farmers and workers in producing countries, sustainable production, and socially sustainable supply chains. It became evident that addressing human rights in supply chains requires a collective effort from policymakers, scientists, the private sector, and civil society to effect sustainable change.