Human rights risks in agricultural investments often start with the land evaluation and acquisition process, extending into major risks of workforce and community welfare as operations commence. HRIA is complicated in agricultural projects by a relative paucity of monitoring data from companies, compared to extractive sector companies.

Environmental, health, and engineering data is rarely as robust at agricultural operations as at extractive sector operations. As such, identifying occupational hazards and impacts on natural resources (particularly groundwater) is more difficult and, at times, more divisive. The first pilot below, from a Dole pineapple plantation and packing facility in Costa Rica, depicts human rights impacts of an agricultural operation in a context of strong governance (at both the corporate and state levels). The second pilot, from Norwegian Green Resources operations in southern Tanzania, represents 7 years of ongoing assessment as the company and the government both develop mechanisms for evaluating industry impacts.

HRIA Webinar

Costa Rica — Dole Fresh Fruit

Tanzania — Green Resources Uchinidle Tree Farm