Methodology for Sustainable Food Systems

This methodology applies to project activities that involve interventions in the food system. The methodology will quantify upstream emission reductions (i.e., emissions associated with food production) and downstream interventions. Downstream interventions include:

1. shifts to planetary healthy diets (i.e., increased consumption of plant-rich foods and decreased consumption of animal sources) and
2. reducing Food Loss Waste (FLW).

The methodology will incorporate the procedures from the recently released VM00046 Methodology for Reducing Food Loss and Waste, which quantifies downstream emission reductions from reducing FLW, to create a single modular framework that can quantify impact across the entire food supply chain.

The methodology will be the first of its kind, addressing key GHG emission quantification challenges to enable scale in climate action–via the VCM–from downstream interventions in the global food system.

Verra is working with Circle Economy (external), Green Data Consulting and WRAP (external) to develop this methodology. The organization Eaternity (external) is also collaborating in a supporting role to develop a performance benchmark.

Verra will lead further developments of the concept note and will continue to engage with the consultant consortium to prepare the methodology documentation and manage the methodology development process. On December 19, 2024, the development of this methodology was put on hold. Verra will consider resuming the development once the following criteria are met:

• Resources are available to support the methodology development process
• The development process can be prioritized over other VCS methodology development work according to the VCS Methodology Development and Review Process.

Verra will reassess whether to resume the development of this methodology in Q4 2025.

Stakeholders interested in collaborating during methodology development or developing projects that this methodology might enable are encouraged to contact methodologies@verra.org. Please include the Methodology Development ID #M0169 in the subject line.