The work of GRSB is accomplished through technical working groups. Importantly, these groups reflect the views of the roundtable and develop agendas, budgets and scopes of work approved by the executive board. The contents, conclusions and recommendations of each group will be achieved through the collaboration of GRSB technical working group members.
We ask each GRSB member organization to contribute to the development and advancement of our technical working groups. GRSB member organizations will often have the necessary skills and in-house expertise to serve on technical working groups. However, non-GRSB members are eligible to serve on technical working groups, and we encourage GRSB members to secure the support and participation of outside experts that can assist the roundtable in meeting our mission and vision as well.
The existing and prospective working groups are a result of the organizational needs and priorities of GRSB. The list is not exhaustive, although we will only create new technical working groups if the membership is able to support the work required.
There are two responsibilities for each technical working group: 1) collect, analyze and present information to the executive board, and; 2) communicate results to GRSB members and broader audiences, as appropriate.
Technical Working Groups
Sustainability Supplier Survey Guidelines - While supplier surveys are an essential tool in order to make sustainability improvements; multiple, duplicative surveys can place an unreasonable burden on producers and others. However, it is not possible to improve if the baseline is not known. (Lead: Richard Gebhart, NCBA)
Objective: To collate and compare current and/or planned sustainability supplier surveys.
Progress: The group has submitted their preliminary report to the Executive Board.
GRSB-GTPS Joint Working Group on Forests (with CGF) - This group represents one of the strengths of a Roundtable approach. The Consumer Goods Forum was keen to develop work on the issue of deforestation, as the beef industry (and related leather industry) plays a major role in deforestation, particularly in the Amazon. CGF approached GRSB to assist in this regard and together with GTPS (the Brazilian Sustainable Livestock Roundtable) and a group of companies from CGF, work on deforestation has now begun. (Lead: Nathalie Walker, NWF)
Objectives:
- Understand the conditions under which cattle contribute to deforestation and barriers to improving systems ensuring deforestation-free supply chains, including technological (monitoring, traceability etc.) and policy barriers. Explore technical (GIS, traceability etc.) and policy measures that contribute to the goal of removing deforestation from the cattle product supply chain. Research and develop ways to address deforestation in ranches who indirectly supply slaughterhouses.
- Secure supplies of beef and leather without encouraging deforestation.
- Facilitate cattle product supply chains that can be verified as being deforestation-free.
- Provide a venue for all relevant, interested stakeholders to share information.
Progress: CGF approached GRSB to assist in this regard and together with GTPS (the Brazilian Sustainable Livestock Roundtable) and a group of companies from CGF, work on deforestation has now begun.
Please contact Nathalie Walker (Nathalie Walker walkern@nwf.org) to participate.
Development of a Beef Life Cycle Assessment White Paper and Scan - Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) are a commonly heard of tool, but although many have heard of them, not many producers and other companies really understand the value of the tool. This has led to mistrust of LCAs in general. Like every tool, LCAs can be very useful and used to an organization’s advantage in decision making processes. There are also potential misuses, such as trying to use them to compare different systems in different regions and draw inappropriate conclusions. (Lead: Open)
Objectives:
- The LCA group seeks therefore to demonstrate the value to producers, processors and others of undertaking a full Life Cycle Analysis, and to demonstrate the potential uses and pitfalls.
- Given the many methodologies being developed, the group will also scan the efforts pertaining to beef so far.
Progress: We urgently seek participation in this group.
Creation of a Beef Sustainability Issues Scan - All members of GRSB are aware that our focus has been divided into six Categories in a framework (Air, Biodiversity, Energy, Land, People and Animals and Water), and these divide further into 11 Key Issues as per the following framework:
|
Issue categories
|
Key issues
A general issue with a significant, measurable (positive or negative) affect resulting from the production of beef
|
|
|
|
Air
|
Air‐related issues – Managing odor, dust issues and other air‐ related issues associated with the beef system
|
|
|
Greenhouse gas emissions – Managing and sequestering greenhouse gas emissions associated with beef production
|
|
|
Bio‐ diversity
|
Biodiverse populations – Managing the health of plant and animal species biodiversity and the habitats on which they depend.
|
|
|
Energy
|
Energy – Managing the amount of energy use associated with the beef system
|
|
|
Land
|
Soil – Managing the use and conservation of soil and maintenance of its quality associated with the beef system
|
|
|
People & Animals
|
Animal care – Providing beef cattle proper care, handling, stunning and euthanasia in all aspects of production and harvest
|
|
|
Community – Contributing to the economic, social and cultural heritage and value of the community
|
|
|
People – Ensuring that the beef system fosters full respect for all people
|
|
|
Labor & Business – Providing job and business opportunities with protection of basic rights of workers and businesses in the beef system
|
|
|
Nutrition & Safety – Providing a safe source of high quality affordable protein and nutrients to people
|
|
|
Water
|
Water – Managing the use of water and maintenance of its quality associated with the beef system
|
|
Objectives: Produce a document better describing the issues and GRSBs understanding of these in different regions and the priorities for action, potential solutions etc. It is essential that members from the respective regions are involved in producing the sections relevant to their own region, and that technical experts in each of the Key Issues are involved.
Progress: We urgently seek participation from all regions and from experts in all Key Issues to populate this group.
