Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
To consider the types of questions that might be scrutinized in the
process, and by whom, we take a closer look at the GRI guidelines. The
system uses three categories of sustainability indicators:
1.
Social performance indicators
center on how an organization con-
tributes to the well-being of its employees, customers, other stake-
holders, and the society through its labor, human rights, gov-
ernance, and product responsibility practices. It includes such
topics as labor and human rights, diversity and use of fair hiring
practices, board members and suppliers, workplace safety, trans-
parency, ethics, corporate governance, social impacts on host com-
munities, product safety, and others.
2.
Economic performance indicators
address the organization's and
its host community's economic prosperity, by focusing on its eco-
nomic impacts on customers, suppliers, employees, providers of
capital, and the public sector. Some topics include sales, profits,
capital expenditures, debt and interest, wages, community dona-
tions, taxes, local purchasing, and brand strength.
3.
Environmental indicators
concern environmental performance
and impacts, both now and for future generations. They cover
such topics as: resource conservation, waste prevention and man-
agement, environmental risk control and restoration, supply chain
impacts, waste disposal, recycling, energy conservation, green-
house gases, biodiversity, water and materials use; renewable
energy; and wildlife conservation.
Clearly, the three categories create an opportunity to ask com-
panies to engage in some of the most vexing questions about this
technology, not only after it is developed and/or introduced into the
market but especially earlier in its development at the R&D stage. Ques-
tions such as, what types of social goods are expected to emerge from a
particular new trait in agricultural GMOs? How will the GMOs impact
the socioeconomic well-being of indigenous communities? What are the
