Where ag sustainability came from, how it developed, potential directions/influences that may impact Ontario.

1. Singing in the Rain
understanding the umbrella of sustainability
Nick Betts M.B.A.
Business Management Specialist | Economic Development Division

2. “Development that meets the needs of
the present without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet
their own needs.”
Gro Harlem Brundtland
Prime Minister, Norway (1981, 86-89, 90-96)
World Commission on Environment & Development (1983-87)
Director-General, World Health Organization (1998-2003)
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3. Development of Current State (Agriculture)
Chemical
Factors
Bio-
Factors
Physical
Factors
Soil Quality
Air Quality
Water
Quality
Environ Quality
Economic
Viability
Social
Respon-
sibility
Soil Quality EnvironmentalQuality Agricultural Sustainability
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4. 4

5. 5

6. “We live today in an age of
sustainababble, a cacophonous
profusion of uses of the word
sustainable to mean anything from
environmentally better to cool.”
Robert Engelman
World Resources Institute
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7. Sustainability may be defined as a
values-laden umbrella concept
about the way in which the
interface between environment & society
(including its institutions & individual members)
is managed to ensure that human needs are
met without destroying the life supporting
ecosystems on which we depend.
Wayne Visser
The Age of Responsibility
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8. Animal
Welfare
Anti-corruptionCommunity Involvement & Philanthropy
Consumer Health, Safety, Privacy, or Support
Education or Culture
Employee Ethics
Employment Creation
Fair competition Capacity-Building
Pollution Prevention
Clean Technology
Climate
Change
Fair
Taxation
Gender
Diversity & Non-discrimination
Sustainable Resource Use
Human Rights & Security
Intellectual Property & Access to Technology
Environment
Governance & Risk
Public Health
Fair Supplier Relations
Fair Marketing
Labour Practices
Political
Involvement
Social Development
Human DevelopmentWork Health & Safety
(Economic
Inequality)
“Sustainability”
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9. RESPECT
EQUITY
TRANSPARENCY
TRUST
MUTUTAL BENEFIT
SUSTAINABILITY
Because it leads to
Because it leads to
Because it leads to
Key Principles
9
Internal Intangible
Stakeholder Intangible
Supply Chain Tangible

10. The 7 Drivers for (Voluntary) Sustainability
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Cost
Reduction
Resource
Conservation
Talent
Attraction,
Retention,
Motivation
Satisfying
Customer
Needs
New
Business
Opportunities
Capital and
Social
Investment
Attraction
Legal
Compliance/
Activism

11. Sustainability is the strategic philosophy used
to change action and plan for the future;
Social responsibility the responsibility to be
communicate these actions appropriately.
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12. Corporate Social Responsibility vs Sustainability
CSR Sustainability
Vision Looks backwards
Reports actions
Looks forwards
Plans change
Targets Opinion-formers
(advocates, media)
Value chain management
(suppliers to consumers)
Business Compliance Business practice
Management Communications Operations/Marketing
Reward Stakeholders Citizenry
Drive Social Capital
Existing market reputation
Emerging markets opportunities
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13. A brand is no longer what we tell
the consumer it is – it is what
consumers tell each other it is.
- Scott D. Cook, CEO Intuit
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14. Social License: Consumer Response
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15. Why?
1. Hyper-globalization
2. Easy & affordable communication
3. Product customization
4. Demographics
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16. 1. Hyper-globalization
• Trade integration
– Significant decrease in information and
communication costs
– Fragmentation of manufacturing across borders
– Individual production stages geographically
corresponds to lowest COP
– Rise in multinational corporations (>80,000) and
foreign direct investment
• Accounts for 67% of world trade
Source: Subramanian & Kessler, 201316

17. 17
2. Communication

18. 18

19. 3. Product Customization
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20. 4. Demographics: shifting expectations
New Consumers & Decision-makers20

21. 4. Demographics: urbanization
World Health Organization21

22. 22

23. What to Expect: Sustainability Standards
• Strong
environmental and
social focus
• Little emphasis on
management
(economics)
• Implications for
public sector?

24. Expectations
• Obligation
demonstrates sector
is in reactionary
state
• When will shift to
proactive strategy
occur?

25. 25

26. Sustainable Agriculture
"Sustainable agriculture is the efficient
production of safe, high quality agricultural
products, in a way that protects and improves
the natural environment, the social and
economic conditions of farmers, their
employees and local communities, and
safeguards the health and welfare of all
farmed species."
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27. “The significant problems we face cannot
be solved at the same level of thinking
we were at when we created them.”
Albert Einstein