Sustainable Agriculture & Agro-Energy – our consulting service
How to achieve sustainable agriculture & agro-energy goals
To be sustainable, agriculture must meet the needs of present and future generations, while ensuring profitability, environmental health, and social and economic equity. Sustainable food and agriculture (SFA) contribute to all four pillars of food security (availability, access, utilization and stability) and the dimensions of sustainability (environmental, social and economic). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations promotes SFA to help countries worldwide achieve Zero Hunger and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Today, the concept of Sustainable Agriculture is closely related to the concept of Agro-Energy. Agro-Energy is the energy deriving from agricultural activities through the production of biomasses by energy crops, by-products and agricultural wastes. Biofuels, or agrofuels, are the products resulting from the processing of these biomasses.
Discover the benefits
Benefits of a sustainable agriculture are well summarized in the 5 FAO key principles:
- Improving efficiency in the use of resources;
- Conserving, rotecting and enhancing natural ecosystems
- Protecting and improving rural livelihoods, quity and social well-being
- Enhancing the resilience of people, ommunities and ecosystems
- Promoting good governance of both natural and human systems.
How does RINA support Sustainable Agriculture & Agro-Eenergy?
RINA provides technical and specialised support through multi-disciplinary consulting teams, capable of meeting all your needs:
Energy assessments
Resource Efficiency Assessments (energy efficiency, water efficiency and irrigation optimization, waste management / GHG emission assessment and Soil Carbon analysis (biochar production) / Life Cycle Assessment / Climate Change impact studies / ISCC Certification support whilst also meeting low ILUC-risk requirements of additionality / Best Available Technologies and Practices scouting
Environmental and Social assessments (E&S)
E&S scoping studies and risk categorization / Land acquisition and resettlement reviews / Indigenous people reviews and studies / Human rights studies and impact assessments / Labour & working conditions and accommodation audits / Community development strategies / Stakeholder Engagement
Biodiversity & Ecosystem Services
Analysis of Land Use Change / Remote Sensing & GIS / Biodiversity / Critical Habitat / Mitigation Measures, Natura 2000 & Protected Areas
Legal assessments
Permitting / Technical and methodological studies, assessment of Company standards, local legislation or other alternative EU certification schemes and directives
Why choose RINA for Sustainable Agriculture & Agro-Energy services?
RINA's experience in supporting the agrifood sector is based on an integrated approach that leverages the skills of our Sustainability team. Our services include the evaluation of GHG emissions across the entire value and supply chain, the analysis of land and use change, environmental and social impact studies, the analysis of vulnerability and risk associated with climate change, the evaluation of new technologies and practices to improve agricultural activities.
Furthermore, we support oil companies and stakeholders in the sustainable implementation of agri-feedstock initiatives for biofuel production. Our approach covers the entire supply chain and follows the principles of the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC), while also meeting low Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC) risk requirement of additionality.
