Advancing Sustainable Agriculture in 5 Countries: The Green Commodities Programme Phase III

Launched in 2010, the Green Commodities Programme (GCP) has been crucial in driving significant changes in sustainable agricultural production, with an emphasis on societal, economic, and environmental impact. Building on the success of the previous two phases, the renewed collaboration between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) aims to further enhance sustainable agricultural commodity production in Peru, Indonesia, Malaysia, Ghana, and Brazil.

As the global demand for sustainable food increases, producer countries face substantial challenges in transforming their agricultural sectors. Environmental degradation, rural poverty, climate change, and new sustainability-driven trade barriers hinder current production models and export arrangements. These challenges often lead younger generations to leave farming communities in search of better opportunities. The complexity of transforming the agricultural sector necessitates collaboration among various stakeholders, including public and private sectors, civil society, academia, finance, and development partners. However, stakeholders often operate in isolation, and many countries lack mechanisms to develop a widely shared vision for their sectors. The GCP seeks to address these challenges by promoting effective collaborative action among stakeholders in five major commodity-producing countries, enabling the construction of resilient commodity sectors capable of facing future challenges.

Phase III of the GCP focuses on addressing complex issues in the agricultural commodity systems of Indonesia, Peru, Brazil, Ghana, and Malaysia. In Indonesia, the project emphasizes mainstreaming the National Action Plan for Sustainable Palm Oil (NAP SPO) across key ministries, institutionalizing NAP functions, and involving the private sector and civil society. This initiative aligns with the trade agreement between the European Free Trade Association and Indonesia, linking market access to sustainable production. In Peru, efforts are directed toward implementing the Coffee National Action Plan and the National Development Plan for Cocoa and Chocolate, addressing challenges such as low productivity, deforestation, and inadequate governance. Phase III will also support strengthening governance structures at the regional level in Cajamarca, Cusco, and Piura.

Each country’s specific challenges necessitate a comprehensive approach. Indonesia faces the dual challenge of being a major palm oil producer while combating deforestation. Peru struggles with low yields, poor production practices, and deforestation in its coffee and cocoa sectors. Brazil contends with agricultural deforestation, particularly related to beef and soy, impacting the Cerrado region. Ghana, a significant cocoa producer, deals with low farmer incomes and seeks value-added opportunities. Malaysia, a major palm oil producer, faces biodiversity threats from logging and oil palm expansion.

The project’s focus on multi-stakeholder collaboration aims to overcome these challenges by engaging national and local governments, the private sector, and global stakeholders. By adopting a systems approach, the project seeks to create lasting change, addressing environmental concerns, poverty, income stabilization, and gender equality within agricultural commodity systems.

The launch of the new GCP phase reaffirms the commitment of UNDP and SECO to fostering positive change in the food and agricultural sector, promoting sustainable agricultural practices through a systems approach. Monica Rubiolo, Head of Commercial Promotion of SECO, emphasized Switzerland’s special interest in sustainable commodities and expressed pleasure in continuing the partnership with UNDP. She highlighted the goal of increasing collaboration with Swiss counterparts and facilitating greater private-sector participation.

Andrew Bovarnick, UNDP Global Head of FACS, noted the valuable lessons learned in the previous phases and expressed excitement about continuing achievements with SECO in Indonesia and Peru while extending collaborative techniques to Malaysia, Ghana, and Brazil. He underscored the importance of involving all levels of government and actors in the supply chain to implement the necessary changes for sustainable food production in the coming years.

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