Food & Agriculture
How food companies and agribusiness use Darwin for supply chain biodiversity
Food & Agriculture
Darwin helps food manufacturers, retailers, and agricultural companies assess biodiversity impacts across their supply chains.
Key Use Cases
Supply Chain Footprint
Map biodiversity impacts from farm to shelf.
Commodity Sourcing
Assess impacts of specific agricultural commodities.
Supply Chain Biodiversity Assessment
The Challenge
Food companies have complex supply chains spanning multiple tiers and geographies. Understanding where biodiversity impacts occur is critical for:
- Regulatory compliance (EU Deforestation Regulation)
- Sustainability commitments (SBTN, Nature Positive)
- Risk management (supply disruption from ecosystem degradation)
How Darwin Helps
Map your entire supply chain and identify where the biggest biodiversity impacts occur.
Example: Palm Oil Sourcing
Map Suppliers
Add your palm oil suppliers as entities, including tier 1 (direct) and tier 2+ (indirect).
Add Commodity Data
Input volumes (tonnes) of palm oil sourced from each supplier.
Link Origins
Specify geographic origins where known (Indonesia, Malaysia, etc.).
Assess Impact
Darwin computes land use, deforestation, and biodiversity impacts.
Key Commodities
Darwin has detailed data for high-impact agricultural commodities:
| Commodity | Key Pressures | Regions |
|---|---|---|
| Palm oil | Deforestation, habitat loss | SE Asia |
| Soy | Land conversion, water use | S. America |
| Beef | Deforestation, GHG emissions | S. America |
| Cocoa | Forest degradation | W. Africa |
| Coffee | Land use, water | C. America, Africa |
| Wheat | Water use, pesticides | Global |
Deforestation Risk Assessment
For companies subject to the EU Deforestation Regulation:
Site-Level Mapping
- Upload supplier site locations
- Overlay with deforestation risk layers
- Identify high-risk origins requiring due diligence
Commodity-Level Analysis
- Trace commodities to production regions
- Assess embedded deforestation risk
- Prioritize engagement with high-risk suppliers
Product Footprinting
Calculate the biodiversity footprint of individual products:
Bill of Materials Approach
- List ingredients/components for a product
- Assign quantities and origins
- Darwin calculates total footprint
- Identify hotspot ingredients
Use Cases
- Compare product variants
- Support eco-design decisions
- Substantiate sustainability claims
Supplier Engagement
Use Darwin insights to drive supplier improvement:
Identify Hotspots
Know which suppliers contribute most to your footprint.
Set Targets
Establish supplier-specific reduction goals.
Compliance & Reporting
Darwin supports reporting requirements for:
- EU Deforestation Regulation - Origin traceability
- CSRD - Double materiality on biodiversity
- SBTN - Science-based targets for nature
- CDP Forests - Disclosure questionnaire
Start with your top 10 commodities by volume or spend - these typically drive 80% of your supply chain footprint.
Getting Started
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