Agribusiness ESG Due Diligence

Our client required an experienced team to provide expert opinion on potential environmental, social and governance risks and opportunities associated with a privately owned large-scale berry fruit agribusiness prior to transfer into new investor ownership.

Challenge

Assets were located across the UK and western Europe and included berry farms and processing and packaging facilities. As is common with peak demand agri-products, they also utilised a seasonal labour model with high energy and resource use. Our client’s challenge was to understand not only the risks presented by the business, but also the ESG opportunities that could be gained across the c.425 ha portfolio.

Our scope of work included a review of migrant / seasonal labour, social employment and welfare matters, governance controls, chemical handling and use, biodiversity, energy, long term water scarcity and resource constraints.

Solution

Our experts bought specialist expertise to the programme of work, using in-house ESG consultants with a strong track record in the agribusiness and food sectors and, in particular, the assessment of social labour standards and human rights within the food retail supply chain.

Risks and opportunities were identified and carried forwards into ESG improvement action plans. These action plans were subsequently used by both the target business and investor to drive forward improvements.