Beef and policy coherence for sustainable development

Case Study 10: Beef and policy coherence for sustainable development

What are the main beef trade mechanism between the nine countries investigated?
What is the relative weight of labour costs in total beef production costs at farm-level in the nine countries?
What national legislation and implementation rules affect farm competitiveness, in relation to labour and how?
How do measures related to GHG emissions affect farm competitiveness?
What is the relationship between labour legislation in the beef sector and related SGDs?

Labour conditions and the related costs may significantly affect beef production competitiveness and international trade. In this case study, the differences in labour conditions, legislation and local rules between nine countries have been investigated. Particular attention was paid to labour condition and environmental impact related to GHG emission in each of the nine countries. The case study is directly related to SDG1 ‘No poverty’, SDG2 ‘Zero Hunger’ and SDG3 ‘Good Health and Well-being’, SDG13 ‘Climate Action’ and SDG15 ‘Life on Land’.

The alignment of this Case Study with the SDGs provides a comprehensive framework for assessing the impact of labour conditions, environmental sustainability, and trade dynamics in the beef industry. The above SDGs influence various aspects of beef production, from labour rights and working conditions to environmental sustainability and economic growth. By adhering to these goals, the studied countries can enhance their competitiveness, meet EU standards, and contribute to global sustainable development. Integrating these SDGs into national policies and practices improves trade relations with the EU and ensures the beef industry’s long-term sustainability and ethical integrity.

The legal framework influencing this case study encompasses domestic laws, EU regulations, and international agreements that collectively shape labour conditions, environmental sustainability, and trade dynamics in the beef industry. Compliance with these frameworks enhances market access, promotes sustainable practices, and aligns with global development goals

Labour cost and GHG emissions can significantly, and increasingly, affect the competitiveness of beef value chains and have a great influence on beef meat product competition in the global market. In this case study labour costs have been quantified in each of the nine countries at farm level and, based on this, a comparison across countries was carried out.

Due to the lack of a worldwide farm accountancy system, the methodological approach chosen to achieve the goals of this case study is the Typical Farm Method. A typical farm is a model farm representing the most common farm type for a specific product in a specific country or region.

The social impact analysis was based on the research of working conditions in the case study countries. In addition a conversion was made to move from the known SDGs to the more operational disclosures of the GRI system. In order to create links between sustainability elements investigated related to beef trade products, causal loop diagrams (CLDs) were made to complete the methodology tools used.

Primary data collection was performed by local experts according to the Typical Farm approach. Secondary information regarding the national legislation have been collected through a literature review and country specific official sources.

Thanks to the methodology applied in this case study, it was possible to visualise how the different components of a system actually interact with each other and how changes in one of them can influence other elements. It shows that the complexity of the beef sector can be summarised by using a Causal Loop Diagram where the information and data sourced from literature and specific studies can help in describing the cause effect in SDGs identified in this study. The results can also be summarized by creating different scenarios.