Parutions des rapports d’expertise pour le FAO d’Allison Loconto (LISIS)

Loconto, A.& Chancé, Q. 2026. The evolution of sustainability standards: Their rationales and visions of sustainability. Rome, FAO. https://doi.org/10.4060/cd9881en

This paper attempts to fill a gap in the literature by focusing on how standard-setting organizations have developed the criteria and indicators for Voluntary Sustainability Standards and exploring the scientific basis for these. It seeks to establish linkages between the ways in which these standards have developed metrics and the types of impacts that have been documented.

Loconto, A., Chancé, Q, Kim, J & Bernard-Mongin, C. 2026. Interfacing science and policy: Exploring the role of scientific knowledge in the design of Voluntary Sustainability Standards. Rome, FAO. https://doi.org/10.4060/cd9860en

Through the concept of scientific cherry-picking, this paper has analysed how Voluntary Sustainability Standards selectively incorporate particular strands of scientific knowledge that align with their operational models and governance structures. This selective integration often leads tothe promotion of interpretations of sustainability that are compatible with weak sustainability paradigms –emphasizing incremental improvements within existingsystems – rather than fostering more systemic and transformative approaches.

Uccello, E., Santacoloma, P. & Loconto, A. 2026. Voluntary Sustainability Standards: Impacts, enablers and barriers to shaping sustainable food systems. Rome, FAO. https://doi.org/10.4060/cd9872en

Drawing on more than a decade of impact studies (2013–2024), this paper assesses the potential of Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS) to improve sustainability across its different, interrelated dimensions, and identifies contextual and other factors that may act as enablers of, or barriers to effectiveness. It offers policy recommendations that can strengthen the contribution of VSS to shaping sustainable food systems.