• Carbon and water are the biggest nature-based drivers of business value.
• Companies are promoting regenerative agriculture and other practices, but until costs and risks are shared across the value chain, progress will be slow.
• Food and beverage companies need to collaborate on systemic incentives for farmers to adopt nature-positive practices.

WASHINGTON, January 5, 2022 /3BL Media/ - The World Environment Center (WEC) today releasedNature-Positive Business Solutions: Perspectives in the Food and Beverage Sector in North Americawith support from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) North America Office and Miridae Natural Capital. The report presents findings from in-depth interviews with over twenty executives regarding opportunities and constraints for companies in adopting nature-positive business solutions in their operations and value chains in Canada and the United States.

The report finds thatcarbonandwaterare the biggest nature-based drivers of business value and concern. Companies are pursing creative strategies to reward agriculture producers and finance their transition to nature-positive practices, but until costs and risks are shared across the value chain, progress will be slow.

Food and beverage companies need to collaborate to create stronger systemic incentives for farmers to adopt nature-positive practices. Also required are standard definitions and metrics for regenerative agriculture and soil health, as well as ways to make the gathering and utilization of on-farm ecosystem data easier, cheaper, and more relevant to those tasked with gathering it.

Overall, investing in nature-positive business requires a new approach that includes monetizing ecosystem services into financial projections.

“This report sprung out of business leaders’ interest in bringing nature-based solutions to scale,” said Glenn Prickett, WEC President & CEO. “Our interviews revealed strong agreement on the priorities to pursue and the key challenges to overcome. The report provides a roadmap for the path forward.”

“The need for nature-based solutions is not only relevant, but imperative to discussions around how we confront the current climate crisis,” said Barbara Hendrie, Director of the UNEP North America Office, “This report highlights key insights that must be kept front of mind when addressing this critical issue.”

View and download the full reportHERE.

About the World Environment Center
The World Environment Center, headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices and operations in emerging and developed markets, is unique in its direct application of sustainable development strategies and practices to the business operations of global companies. WEC creates sustainable business solutions through individual projects in emerging markets; convenes leadership roundtables to shape strategic thinking across a range of sustainability topics with a specific focus on the preparation of business leaders to implement sustainability; and honors industry excellence through its annual Gold Medal Award. An independent non-profit organization, WEC conducts no advocacy activities. For more information, please visitwww.wec.org.