Understanding and promoting agricultural sustainability through collaboration and science
The Committee on Sustainability Assessment (COSA™) is a non-profit consortium operating at the global level. Our mission is to advance innovative measurement and management methods that analyze the social, environmental and economic effects of agricultural practices. Policy-makers, firms and farmers use COSA tools to improve their practices and to better understand, manage and accelerate sustainability.
COSA offers:
- Global Partnerships operating with a strong local context in each country
- Experience with thousands of surveys, electronic data collection systems, and customizable indicators to meet diverse needs
- Practical and strategic management data that is necessary for successful investment in sustainability
- A participatory process integrating expert input from scientists, producer groups, private firms, NGOs, and development agencies
- Experience with the world's largest collection of agricultural sustainability data to improve project design, analysis, and policy dialogue
The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) were instrumental in initially launching the initiative. COSA has since become an independent organization and its metrics are increasingly applied by leading public agencies, private firms, NGOs, farmers and producer groups worldwide, resulting in low-cost comparisons, more credible reporting, and improved practices for agricultural sustainability.
