Mainstreaming Sustainable Rice through the Sustainable Rice Platform Project

CONTEXT

The Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) is a multi-stakeholder alliance convened in 2011 with a vision to transform the global rice sector into delivering high-quality rice to consumers, help farmers achieve better lives, and protect the environment. Institutions participating in SRP developed and piloted an innovative suite of tools to offer a framework for assessing farming practices of smallholder rice farmers, guiding improvement, and supporting sustainability claims in rice supply chains. Following field-testing, these tools were refined and released in 2019 to guide the global rice sector to achieve sustainability. In February 2020, SRP was incorporated under German law as a member-based international Association.

The new SRP Association, or SRP e.V., seeks to establish robust systems that form the foundation to scale sustainable rice production and market demand for sustainable rice globally, and provide support to rice sector stakeholders to engage in this process.

OBJECTIVE

To strengthen the tools and systems to scale the production and global marketing of sustainable rice

APPROACH

The project works within the SRP e.V. to strengthen the tools and systems that are most urgent to unlock market-based funds, to help rice sector stakeholders to deliver tangible benefits to 1 million smallholder farmers by 2023, and to 10 million farmers by 2030.

• Establishing SRP National Chapters to optimise country-level approaches and mainstream sustainable practices through policy measures
• Elevating the SRP Standard and Performance Indicators and associated capacity building systems to meet international benchmarks for credible standards
• Increasing value of SRP Trademarks and brokering relationships with downstream rice value chain actors to expand market penetration of verified sustainable rice
• Engaging in data-driven reporting on impacts for more powerful communications and knowledge management
• Working with scaling partners to drive sector transformation

EXPECTED RESULTS

Project activities will directly contribute to establishing global recognition for SRP as a credible sustainability framework for rice. The project is also expected to result in the establishment of national forums for multi-stakeholder action on sustainable rice in five key rice producing countries, where it is anticipated that governments will provide the leadership requisite to deepen buy-in and scale sustainable production in these geographies.

The project will indirectly contribute to improving the livelihood and resilience of rice farmers, specifically resource-poor rice smallholders and communities in developing countries, by shifting to sustainable practices. Project activities will also indirectly lower the environmental footprint of rice cultivation through the promotion of practices that reduce water use and greenhouse gas emissions (methane), protect biodiversity and reduce air pollution.

FINANCED BY

The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Ebro Foods Group, Mars Food and Olam International

COUNTRY

Global (implemented from Thailand)

PROJECT PARTNERS

Ebro Foods Group, Mars Food, Olam International, Sustainable Rice Platform e.V., and rice sector stakeholders

PROJECT DURATION

10/2020 – 09/2023

MORE INFORMATION

Mainstreaming Sustainable Rice through the SRP | Sustainable Agrifood System in ASEAN  https://www.asean-agrifood.org/sustainable-rice-platform-srp/