{"id":721,"date":"2017-12-13T02:36:26","date_gmt":"2017-12-12T21:06:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ga-institute.com\/to-the-point\/?p=721"},"modified":"2018-01-28T01:47:48","modified_gmt":"2018-01-27T20:17:48","slug":"2018-investor-corporate-dialogue-human-drugs-in-the-ag-food-sectors-rising-antibiotic-resistance-factory-farming-food-industry-issues-colliding-in-the-2018-investor-corporat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ga-institute.com\/to-the-point\/2018-investor-corporate-dialogue-human-drugs-in-the-ag-food-sectors-rising-antibiotic-resistance-factory-farming-food-industry-issues-colliding-in-the-2018-investor-corporat\/","title":{"rendered":"2018 INVESTOR-CORPORATE DIALOGUE: Human Drugs In The Ag & Food Sectors. Rising Antibiotic Resistance. Factory Farming. \u201cFood\u201d Industry Issues Colliding in the 2018 Investor-Corporate Dialogue and Proxy Voting Season"},"content":{"rendered":"

Consumers are very interested in \u201cwhat\u201d is in their food (including additives); “how” it was prepared (\u201cindustrial farming\u201d is a rising criticism message of activists); and “if” the food was genetically modified or pharmaceuticals were used all along the food value chain.<\/em><\/h3>\n

One issue coming into sharper focus is the use of antibiotics in the food supply– and what that means in terms of antibiotic resistance\u2026and the rising threat to human health around the world.<\/em><\/h3>\n

\"\"\u201cFood\u201d is a complex subject and one of broader and fast-rising interest for consumers.\u00a0 There many aspects of \u201cfood\u201d and \u201cfarming\u201d now in focus for investors and activists \u2013 and that poses both risk and expansion of opportunity for the private and public sectors.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 *****<\/p>\n

For example:\u00a0 For several years The New York Times<\/strong> <\/em>had a feature writer (and later editorial page columnist) focused on food and agriculture \u2013 Mark Bittman<\/strong>.\u00a0 His original focus was\u00a0 somewhat typical — \u201cfood\u201d — but this is what he had to say as he bid farewell to the newspaper readers in September 2015 to enter private industry:<\/p>\n

“When I began nearly five years ago (in 2010), food was not generally considered as a serious a topic as it is now. When I met with Andrew Rosenthal<\/strong>, The Times\u2019s editorial page editor, he asked if there enough food issue to sustain a weekly column.\u00a0 I laughed and promised him a list of 75 ideas the next morning.\u00a0 I under delivered by a couple of dozen, but I gave him 50; both of us are happy it worked out.<\/p>\n

“Mostly [in leaving] I believe that I\u2019ve identified the major issues in the interwoven worlds of food, agriculture, nutrition and the environment. Food affects just about everything, and vice versa.<\/em><\/p>\n

The world of food writing, reporting and broadcasting has changed.\u00a0 <\/em>Dozens if not scor<\/em>es of authors and media writers are now expressing opinions about food, often daily.<\/p>\n

In closing, Bittman said:\u00a0 “I promised my editors that I would not overstay my welcome; five years represented a sensible amount of time to rail against the injustices and praise the advances I was seeing in the world of food and things linked to it.”<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0*****<\/p>\n

Investor Interest in Food Issues Has Been Rising \u2013 And Coalitions Forming Around Issues…<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Investors are also interested in food and agriculture issues and trends (as individual consumers) and as fiduciaries in large investment institutions serving beneficiaries and asset owners.<\/p>\n

\"\"An example is the\u00a0FAIRR- Farm, Animal Investment Risk and Return<\/strong> [Initiative], claiming support of a coalition of investors with more than US$1 trillion in Assets Under Management.\u00a0 The aim:\u00a0 to put various \u201cfactory farming\u201d issues on the ESG agenda for engagement with corporates.<\/p>\n

These issues include the risk posed by Avian Flu; Swine Flu; inclusion of horsemeat in certain consumer foods, and other issues (these cited, says FAIRR, are just the tip of the iceberg).<\/p>\n

Two issues are the subject of active engagement: the \u201cask\u201d of companies is to take action on \u201cthe overuse\u201d of antibiotics in their operations.\u00a0 McDonald\u2019s, Domino Pizza Group<\/strong> and Yum! Brands<\/strong> are in focus; FAIRR-affiliated investors want these firms to end the use of non-therapeutic antibiotics<\/strong><\/em> in their food supply chain.<\/p>\n

Another issue:\u00a0 ending the use of \u201cindustrially-produced animal proteins”.\u00a0 \u00a0This involves engaging with numerous brand name \u201ctarget\u201d companies such as General Mills, Kraft Heinz Company, Mondelez International, Nestle SA<\/strong>, and Unileve<\/strong>r.\u00a0 Food retailers are also identified by the initiative, including Costco, Wal-Mart, Whole Foods<\/strong> and Kroger Company.<\/strong><\/p>\n

There is more information for you on these initiatives at:<\/p>\n