ISCC and the Food Security Standard

Our planet has the capacity to produce enough food for every living creature on it. Despite this, hunger levels remain high in many parts of the world.

By strengthening food security as a fundamental human right, the Food Security Standard (FSS) also supports social and economic rights. Ensuring reliable access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food reduces the risk that individuals resort to precarious or unsafe work to meet basic needs.

About the FSS

The FSS was developed between 2017 and 2022 as a project funded by the German Federal Ministry for Agriculture Food and Regional Identity (BMLEH) and is now actively managed by Welthungerhilfe (WHH) and Meo Carbon Solutions (MCS). 

It focuses on addressing the systemic social and economic factors driving food insecurity to promote resilient communities and sustainable development. 

Introducing the ISCC FSS add-on 

In close cooperation with the FSS, we developed a voluntary extension of the ISCC core requirements that follows the principles, criteria and indicators of the FSS.

Strengthen Your Existing Certification

Our FSS add-on is a voluntary addition to your ISCC EU or ISCC PLUS certification to demonstrate your company’s actions toward zero hunger and social sustainability.

A Holistic Approach to Food Security

By complementing existing sustainability standards, our FSS add-on provides a holistic approach to the human right to food through practicable, measurable criteria and audit tools that apply to all agricultural products, farm sizes, and businesses.

Benefits of the FSS Add-on for the Private Sector

Obtaining the Food Security Standard supports companies dealing with crops sourced from countries affected by human rights-related risks, such as food insecurity. 

Assess human rights holistically:

Social sustainability is complex and interconnected. The FSS offers a holistic toolbox to verify human rights at agricultural production under the aspect of food security. This includes, for example, the protection of chilrend’s rights, the right to freedom of slavery and discrimination and the right to an adequate standard of living.

Protect local food security:

The FSS can prove that while agricultural land is used for export crops, local food security is ensured. 

Stand out from your competitors:

By using measurable impact indicators for CSR reporting, strengthening your market position and unlocking business potential.

Build strong and resilient supply chains:

by investing in food security sensitive management systems. Verified supply chain data empowers better risk management and decision making for businesses.

Demonstrate your commitment:

towards voluntary and mandatory human rights due diligence obligations.

The ISCC FSS add-on Supports Compliance with Regulation

A legal benchmark conducted by the law firm Cattwyk Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft GmbH & Co. KG confirmed that the FSS effectively supports compliance with evolving European Union (EU) sustainability regulations. You can learn more about the benchmark results here. 

Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive

The FSS verifies compliance with human rights-related legal positions, helping companies identify, assess and mitigate risks through on-site audits.

European Union Deforestation Regulation

The FSS verifies compliance with land use rights and indigenous rights, reducing deforestation-linked risks.

Forced Labour Regulation

The FSS verifies adherence to forced labour bans, preventing exploitative practices in agricultural supply chains. 

Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive

The FSS strengthens corporate sustainability reporting, supporting ESRS S2 (workers in the value chain) and ESRS S3 (affected communities).