60 Decibels Launches Farmer Benchmarks: A Groundbreaking Tool for Advancing Agriculture Sector Impact
London, August 17th – 60 Decibels, a global leader in social impact measurement, has just launched their Farmer Benchmarks – a free, interactive tool that enables agri-businesses, investors and organizations to compare their social performance through never-before published, high-quality impact data.
A first for the agriculture sector, the Farmer Benchmarks are the result of an extensive research effort, involving interviews with over 18,000 farmers across 19 countries – via 93 impact measurement projects over the past three years. Encompassing a wide range of metrics, the benchmarks measure companies and organizations offering farming inputs, training, advisory services, agricultural technologies, credit, insurance, or market access solutions to farmers. Accessible via the 60 Decibels website, the dashboard allows users to filter the data based on various criteria such as sub-sector, gender, and region. The dashboard will be updated on a quarterly basis to incorporate data from new projects.
Initial takeaways from the data collected within the Benchmarks include:
- Gender Parity: Female farmers experience similar impacts as their male counterparts once they have access to products and services offered by agribusinesses. Our benchmarks demonstrate comparable median values for both genders in significant enhancements in farming practices, production increases, and higher earnings from their farms. Of the 18,000 farmers interviewed in the current data set, 28% were women.
- Quality of Life Improvement: Companies providing inputs, equipment, or training have a positive impact on farmers’ overall quality of life that is even greater than their impact on financial gains. These improvements could reflect reduced labor, stress, or enhanced knowledge resulting from the companies’ services.
- Reaching the Underserved: The benchmarks highlight that agribusinesses are delivering essential services to underserved populations. Many farmers are accessing products or services for the first time, indicating growing inclusivity in the sector.
“Benchmarking is crucial to understand the agriculture sector, allowing companies to identify best practices, optimize their programs, and streamline operations to maximize the impact of their efforts,” says Ellie Turner, Deputy Agriculture Lead at 60 Decibels. “These benchmarks foster transparency, accountability, and informed decision-making in the sector. We encourage agricultural companies, organizations, and stakeholders to explore the Farmer Benchmarks and learn how to compare their social performance to their peers. By harnessing the power of benchmarks, we can collectively work towards a sustainable, inclusive, and resilient agricultural ecosystem.”
Organizations, funds or investors looking for more detailed insights into how they measure up to the sector, can reach out to Deputy Agriculture Lead Ellie Turner to set up a 60 Decibels impact survey.