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 the 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 the 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 on which 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, and 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 the 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

RESULTS SO FAR

• Four countries (Cambodia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Thailand) are in the process of establishing SRP National Chapters. Four additional countries (Ghana, Ivory Coast, Indonesia, Vietnam) are being supported by the project to promote awareness, dialogue, and a foundation for local action on sustainable rice production.
• Supported the SRP to apply for and achieve ISEAL Community Member status, with a public announcement made by ISEAL in January 2022.
• Brokered relationships with rice brands and retailers, with SRP-verified rice now available for sale in 10 European countries: Germany, Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Belgium, Austria, France, Italy, and Poland.
• Supported the updating of the organisation’s Theory of Change and development of a commensurate monitoring, evaluation and learning system inclusive of all ISEAL-recommended elements.

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/