Sustainability Action Plan: Economic Resilience in focus
The Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC) has published “Agri-supply: An Action Plan for Sustainable Efficiency”, a pivotal resource designed to support UK agri-supply businesses in navigating the complexities of sustainability.
Launched at the AIC Conference on 13 November 2024, this comprehensive blueprint offers essential guidance for businesses across the key agri-supply sectors of Animal Feed, Combinable Crops, Crop Protection and Agronomy, Fertiliser, and Seed.
AIC’s Action Plan provides a clear framework for enhancing sustainability credentials while driving operational efficiency, fostering resilience, and contributing to a robust agriculture and food system in the UK.
Covering critical topics such as economic resilience, climate impacts, biodiversity, and sustainable communities, it delivers actionable insights and recommendations that align with government policies and market expectations.
Each week, AIC is exploring a chapter of the Sustainability Action Plan - this week we focus on “Economic Resilience”. Read the full chapter of AIC's Sustainability Action Plan on this area from page 10.
Visit the Sustainability webpage for more information.
What does it mean?
The amount of data being collected by businesses is growing exponentially and there is an increasing demand for this data to be reported on, requiring systems to be in place to facilitate this.
Alongside the evolution of data, the workplace itself is evolving. The way individuals evaluate roles and companies is changing, and there’s an emphasis on staff development, values and retention.
Sustainability reporting has become a critical element of corporate responsibility - promoting transparency, accountability, and responsible business practices.
An increasing focus from the finance industry into these areas influences which businesses they work with, as well as their investment decisions, ultimately impacting access to finance.
Why does it matter to business?
Data, technology and systems
Public and private sector bodies are increasingly making sustainability commitments, net zero being one of these, as shown
below. It is data, reporting and systems that are providing the evidence for businesses compliance and assurance.
In turn, this provides business benefits:
- Supports business decision-making to drive efficiency and opportunities, improving competitiveness.
- Allows businesses to gain customer insights.
- Enables more informed strategic planning.
- Ensures that businesses cannot be accused of greenwashing, as accurate data and transparent reporting systems can support their sustainability claims.
Corporate Knowledge
Retaining corporate knowledge in a more dynamic labour market is crucial for business resilience and enables:
- Business continuity, as critical information is retained and knowledge remains embedded within the organisation when employees move on or retire.
- The retention of an efficient and productive workforce who have experience of risks and opportunities and who can upskill new employees.
- Better risk management and more informed operational and strategic decision-making.
- Continuous learning and improvement based on accumulated knowledge, allowing businesses to identify gaps and look for opportunities to innovate.
- Compliance with regulations and industry standards
Learn more
AIC’s Action Plan for Sustainable Efficiency is your guide to meaningful progress, offering practical actions to reduce environmental impact, support market access, and secure long-term resilience.
All agri-supply businesses are encouraged to explore the Action Plan and engage with AIC for further support. For queries and further information, contact AIC’s Head of Sustainability Vicky Robinson ([email protected]) or Policy Manager Andrew Pearson ([email protected]).
Go to the Sustainability webpage to find out more, or click below.
