CoP Food

Ethical Trade Denmark brings together businesses, trade unions, civil society, and public institutions to promote more responsible trade and strengthen engagement, collaboration, and action for sustainable development in global value chains.

Our newly established Food Community of Practice enables collaboration on security of supply and addresses environmental and social risks within global agricultural food supply chains, based on the latest insights into responsible sourcing.

Why a Community of Practice?

A large proportion of Danish consumed food is imported from countries outside of Denmark and Europe. These imported food supplies are becoming increasingly vulnerable to climate fluctuations, with unpredictable harvests, droughts, and floods. Food supply chains are also often characterized by socio-economic challenges such as poverty, low wages, and precarious conditions for (migrant) workers.

Through interviews and risk mapping Ethical Trade Denmark has identified Fruit and Nuts as initial categories of focus, because of a combination of high risk in terms of environmental and social issues and also high importance commercially to the Danish market.

What do we want to achieve?

• Enable participants to protect and strengthen sustainable food supply security into the future, building resilient and stable long-term supply in key high risk supply chains
• Contribute to companies’ ability to adhere to ESG regulation and their own environmental and social commitments
• Build relationships with new suppliers in key regions who are successfully tackling social and environmental issues
• Build deeper partnerships with existing suppliers in key regions, to catalyse possible improvement projects on environmental and social issues – with investors and local organisations.
• Foster more climate-resilient and ethical supply chains for Danish food products.

What does participation involve?

• Active participation in meetings, workshops, and learning sessions (approx. 3-6 meetings yearly)
• Engage suppliers and partners
• Actively share dilemmas and opportunities with the broader community
• Provide information and share lessons for case studies, product cards, and guidance material
• Engage in spin-off projects or partnerships, where relevant.

What activities will the Community of Practice engage in?