FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef Releases New Guidance to Measure and Advance Nature Positive Production

APRIL 21 — The Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (GRSB) has published its new report, Nature Positive Production and its Measurable Impact on the Beef Supply Chain, providing science-aligned, practical guidance to support GRSB’s 2030 goal to ensure the beef value chain is a net positive contributor to nature.

Developed through the GRSB Nature Positive Production Working Group, the report is designed to help members, national and regional roundtables, producers, and value chain partners measure and demonstrate nature positive outcomes in beef production systems, while remaining adaptable to local contexts.

The report is not a certification or prescriptive standard, but a guidance document to support alignment, piloting of nature-related measurement, and high-integrity claims.

After reviewing recommended metrics across the Nature Positive Initiative, Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), Science Based Targets Network (SBTN), Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), and others, the report identifies three core biodiversity metrics that are widely recognized and can be applied at farm, landscape, and/or jurisdictional scales:

• Ecosystem extent: Measures the area and distribution of ecosystem types (e.g. forests or native grasslands) within a defined production unit or landscape.
• Ecosystem condition: Assesses ecological integrity or quality relative to a baseline, using indicators such as vegetation structure, species diversity, soil health, and habitat connectivity.
• Species-level metrics: Where relevant, may include measures such as species abundance, community indices, or extinction risk in landscapes where beef production overlaps with species of conservation concern.

Together, these metrics provide a practical foundation for assessing risks and opportunities in beef production systems.

Recognizing the diversity of beef production systems globally, the GRSB does not prescribe specific measurement methods. Instead, the report emphasizes the importance of:

• Local and regional context, including alignment with existing frameworks
• Relevant stakeholder consultation
• The use of globally consistent ecosystem typologies, such as the IUCN Global Ecosystem Typology, to support comparability

By supporting more consistent and credible measurement, the report addresses growing expectations from markets, governments, and financial institutions for nature-related data, while reinforcing the role of environmentally sound beef production in supporting resilient ecosystems, productive landscapes, and long-term food security.

The GRSB will build on this work through its Nature Positive Production Taskforce, working with members and national roundtables to pilot the application of these metrics in different regions and share learnings across the global network.

The full Nature Positive Metrics Report is available to GRSB members only. However, a summary of the report can be accessed here.

About the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef

The Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (GRSB) is a global, multi-stakeholder initiative focused on advancing continuous improvement in the sustainability of the global beef value chain. Through collaboration, science, and innovation, GRSB works to ensure beef is produced responsibly, transparently, and in ways that benefit people, animals, and the planet.

###

Media Contact:

Grace Vehige

[email protected]