| Abbreviation | FAIRR |
|---|---|
| Formation | 2015 |
| Founder | Jeremy Coller |
| Type | NGO |
| Legal status | Non-profit initiative |
| Purpose | Address ESG risks in the global food and agriculture sector |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
Region served | Global |
| Membership | 400+ institutional investors |
Key people | Fiona Reynolds (President) |
Parent organization | Jeremy Coller Foundation |
| Website | https://www.fairr.org |
FAIRR (initially known as the Farm Animal Investment Risk and Return Initiative) is a global network of institutional investors addressing environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks and opportunities in the food sector. [1] It provides institutional investors with research, analytical tools, and collaborative platforms to engage companies across the global food and agriculture industries. [2] FAIRR is part of the Jeremy Coller Foundation, a philanthropic platform established in 2002 by private equity investor Jeremy Coller. [3] [4] [5] [6] It works to make the food supply more sustainable and using more plant-based foods. [7]
Based in London, UK, [8] it offers research, tools, and investor engagements in the global food sector. [9] [10] [11]
FAIRR was founded in 2015 by Jeremy Coller, Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer of Coller Capital, to help institutional investors identify and mitigate ESG risks associated with intensive animal agriculture and broader food systems. [12] [13] According to the Guardian the initiative managed to unite 40 global financial firms including Robeco, Aviva, and Nordea in 2015-2016, making a near 2 trillion USD coalition. [14]
In 2022, FAIRR and the Good Food Institute (GFI) launched a tool with two frameworks for businesses to report the sustainability of alternative proteins. [15]
In 2023, FAIRR released a report—developed with IPCC scientists—warning that climate risks could push half of the world’s largest livestock producers into operating losses by 2030 under a 2°C scenario. [16]
In 2023, FAIRR appointed Fiona Reynolds, former CEO of UN-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), as its President. [17]
According to Bloomberg, a 2024 FAIRR report analyzing 79 agrifood companies found that while many publicly promote regenerative agriculture, few have clear targets or provide financial support. [18]
Headquartered in London, UK, FAIRR comprises over 400 investor members managing approximately $70 trillion in assets. [19] FAIRR facilitates collaborative investor engagements, publishes research, coordinates policy advocacy, and engages with regulators, industry groups, and non-governmental organisations to enhance sustainability across food supply chains. [20] [21] [22]
FAIRR coordinates investor engagement programmes addressing environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks in global food production. Its early campaigns focused on antimicrobial resistance, protein diversification and waste management in intensive livestock supply chains. [23] [24] [25]
Antimicrobial resistance
FAIRR helped to establish the Investor Action on Antimicrobial Resistance, a coalition of investors addressing antibiotic use in agriculture. In 2023 the network coordinated a campaign with investors representing about US$6 trillion in assets, encouraging large restaurant groups such as McDonald’s and KFC to strengthen antibiotic-use policies in their meat supply chains. [26] [27]
Protein diversification
Since 2016 FAIRR has engaged major food retailers and manufacturers on protein diversification and climate-transition planning. The initiative focuses on improving corporate disclosure around alternative-protein strategies and reducing exposure to livestock-related climate and deforestation risks. [28]
In 2024, FAIRR launched a seafood traceability initiative with 35 investors representing over $6.5 trillion in assets. This project engages seafood companies such as Nissui and Nomad Foods, addressing ESG risks including overfishing, labour exploitation and biodiversity loss in the seafood industry. [29] [30]
FAIRR’s 2024 climate risk analysis reported significant financial threats facing the livestock industry by 2030, driven by methane emissions, volatile feed prices, and rising consumer demand for plant-based alternatives. [31] [32]
Coller FAIRR Protein Producer Index benchmarks the world’s 60 of the largest publicly listed meat, dairy, and aquaculture companies on ten ESG themes aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The index provides financial institutions with insights and analytics on ESG performance, identifying risks and trends with the protein industry. [33] [34] [35]
The Coller FAIRR Climate Risk Tool models potential financial impacts on meat and dairy producers under three climate scenarios - High Climate Impact, Business as Usual, and Net Zero Aligned - using data from authoritative sources such as Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS). [36]
In 2024, FAIRR received several awards recognising its contribution to sustainable investment and ESG advocacy, including:
FAIRR has also received other industry awards and recognitions in previous years. [40]