The Forest, Agriculture and Commodity Trade (FACT) Dialogue and its accompanying Roadmap of Action grew out of the 26th United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP26) held in 2021 under the leadership of the United Kingdom. The FACT Dialogue is a part of a wider package of announcements made during the UN climate conference with regard to forests and sustainability. While the initial FACT co-chair was the government of Indonesia, in 2025 the co-chair position rotates to the Government of Malaysia.
As a government-to-government dialogue, FACT brings together 28 of the largest producer and consumer countries of internationally traded agricultural commodities, such as beef, cocoa, palm oil, soya and timber. The shared goal is to protect forests and other ecosystems while promoting sustainable trade and development, and addressing the climate and biodiversity crises. The FACT Dialogue plays an essential role in addressing the transformations of the global food system to support sustainability while protecting forests, ecosystems, and people.
FACT is in a unique position to not only shape policies, but to ensure that collaborating countries have an equal voice when discussing and implementing regulations. Shared goals can only be achieved through continued collaboration.
Such joint action is truly essential. Concerns are growing that the ambitions of the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forest and Land Use from COP26, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), are not being met. Further challenges arise from relevant new legislation and changing regulations that can mean many countries require additional support if they are to achieve sustainability in their supply chains.
Four key thematic areas are emphasized under the FACT roadmap: Trade and Market Development, Smallholder Support, Traceability and Transparency, and Research, Development and Innovation. Implementation of the roadmap is well underway, with FACT member countries working together to:
- Implement best practices and mechanisms associated with sustainable production, and improve understanding of the needs of producer countries concerning markets. This is the focus of working groups in the Trade and Market Development thematic area. To learn more about the FACT Dialogue work on trade and markets, click here.
- Enhance understanding of the support needed for smallholder farmers, and share best practices across a range of national and international platforms. To learn more about the FACT Dialogue work on smallholders, click here.
- Identify gaps in order to support ongoing technological developments and improve transparency and traceability systems around the world. To learn more about the FACT Dialogue work on traceability and transparency, click here.
- Enhance understanding and learning across each of the FACT thematic areas through work involving a range of national and international research organizations and initiatives. To learn more about the FACT Dialogue work on research, development and innovation, click here.
Who is involved in FACT?
The FACT Dialogue brings together major producer and consumer countries of global agricultural commodities. Additionally, stakeholder involvement in the FACT Dialogue has continued since FACT’s launch in 2021, with a Stakeholder Engagement Plan in development to ensure the integration of stakeholders from the local to the global level. This consultation processes aims to ensure the inclusion and participation of all relevant stakeholders so they may make a valuable contribution to implementing the FACT roadmap.
