How investing in sustainable food and agriculture made a difference in 2020

Our current food and agriculture systems exceed planetary boundaries. They deplete soils, contribute to climate change through relatively high greenhouse gas emissions, cause a decrease in biodiversity, contribute to malnutrition and support inequality due to power concentration.

Agriculture must work with nature rather than against it. At the same time, a balanced and resilient food system should promote healthy diets and deliver fair pay for farmers. This will require a thorough redesign, a renewed connection between consumers and the food they eat and a revaluation of our food and ecosystems.

Triodos' conceptual model of sustainable food systems

The holistic view forms the base of our investment strategy and is further explained in the Triodos Bank’s vision paper on food and agriculture systems ‘Towards ecologically and socially resilient food and agriculture systems’ (PDF).

Our vision encompasses the following three pillars:

Balanced ecosystems

Modern farming systems cause severe soil degradation: over 50% over global arable land is degraded. Biodiversity loss is a major issue and water depletion occurs with agriculture accounting for 70% of global freshwater withdrawals. And farming has high greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. They threaten the very ecosystems they depend on. It is essential that farming practices return to an approach of working with nature rather than against it. The Principles of Organic Agriculture of health, ecology, fairness and care should be guiding. Also, about a third of global food production is wasted at some point in the value chain. Resilient food and agriculture systems reduce food waste throughout the supply chain and serve local markets with seasonal products wherever possible.

Healthy society

About 800 million people still suffer from chronic hunger while 1.9 billion people are either overweight or obese. Simultaneously, more than 2 billion people suffer from the hidden hunger of micronutrient deficiencies (lack of vitamins and minerals). The challenge is not only about producing food in sufficient quantities, but rather about achieving sufficient quality. This means that food and agriculture systems should transition towards sustainable diets; diets with a low environmental impact, that are nutritious, safe and healthy as well as culturally accepted, accessible and affordable. More specifically diets that focus on quality, not only quantity, that are diverse, and preferably local.

Inclusive prosperity

In emerging economies, 500 million small-scale farmers supply 70% of the world’s food. They represent the poorest and hungriest people in the world. In western economies, the continued pressure on farmers to produce large quantities of homogenous products for low prices has led to upscaling and intensification of farming practices. All parties in the value chain should receive a proper proportion of the prosperity generated. Smallholder farmers should receive access to assets, capital, education, infrastructure and information to intensify and scale up their production. Industrialised farmers should be given the opportunity to transition away from monocultures and intensive farming. Lastly, farmers should be rewarded for their capital investments and labour as well as their societal roles, promoting sustainable farming practices integrated in the local landscape.

16.9M organic meals served

Organic meals

The number reflects the estimated number of meals served by the products sold by the following companies in the portfolio of Triodos Food Transition Europe Fund: Beendi and HARi&CO in France, Aarstiderne in Denmark and Farmy in Switzerland.

86% sourced sustainably

Sustainably sourced

The weighted average of sustainably sourced used by all companies in the portfolio of Triodos Food Transition Europe Fund amounts to 86%.

224M EUR turnover of organic products

Turnover of organic products

The turnover of organic products generated by the companies in the portfolio of Triodos Food Transition Europe Fund totals EUR 224 million. This is an indicator for the access that consumers have to sustainable and organic food products.

35,000 small-scale farmers reached

Small-scale farmers

35,000 small-scale farmers in eight developing countries received immediate and fair payment upon delivery of their harvest through trade finance facilities provided by Hivos-Triodos Fund, thereby brining ten different agricultural products to international markets such as cocoa, coffee, rice and quinoa.

Find out in more detail how three of our funds – Triodos Food Transition Europe Fund, Groenfonds and Hivos-Triodos Fund – contribute to the food transition.

Read the interview and case studies to find out more how our investment contribute to the acceleration of the food transition.

Explore a selection of our investments and find out how they work towards a green, inclusive and resilient economy.

By using this tool you agree with the content of this disclaimer.

The purpose of this tool is to inform investors about the type of investments and their potential sustainability impact. The information in the tool is of a general nature and does not constitute an opinion of Triodos Investment Management of the financial instrument. Therefore, the tool is not intended and should not be construed as an offer, invitation or general solicitation to buy, sell or dispose of any investment, to engage in any other transaction or to provide any investment advice or investment recommendation.

Impact Equities and Bonds

The SDGs mentioned in the company sections are linked to the (main) transition theme that the company contributes to, not directly to its products or services. Refer to the Sustainability Annex in the prospectus for more information.

All investments carry risk and all investment decisions of an individual remain the responsibility of the individual. Past or estimated results are no guarantee or indication of future results. Triodos Investment Management does not accept any liability for any losses.

The information in the tool is updated on a regular basis. However, the tool is not updated on a daily basis. Therefore, the information in the tool can be outdated. Triodos Investment Management can not be hold liable for information that is outdated.

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Bolstering the food transition

Why do we invest in the food transition?

How do we invest for impact?

Impact highlights

Organic meals

Sustainably sourced

Turnover of organic products

Small-scale farmers

The impact of our funds

Triodos Food Transition Europe Fund

Bolstering the food transition

Hivos-Triodos Fund

Catalaysing green, inclusive growth in emerging economies

Triodos Groenfonds

Financing organic farming in the Netherlands

In stories: interview and case studies

Biodynamic farmers Monique and Martijn learn from nature

Working towards a sustainable cocoa sector in Sierra Leone

The food revolution that’s already here

Impact on a global scale

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