RTRS: Global Forum on sustainable soy

The Round Table on Responsible Soy (RTRS) is the world’s leading multistakeholder forum on the sustainable production, trade, and consumption of soy. Since 2016, Olab has partnered with RTRS in the design, facilitation, and communication of its annual conference, aiming at bringing together thought leaders, managers, and key partners to elevate sustainability standards in soy.

From venue scouting and agenda design to speaker preparation, conference narrative, facilitation techniques, and content preparation, the conferences themselves are facilitated by the Olab team. They also play a crucial role in ensuring that the communication materials are engaging and reach the widest possible audience.

To achieve effective delivery, the design of the international conference begins at least six months in advance. It involves interviewing a number of individuals and creating an agenda that includes a mix of dynamic and participatory learning and sharing, as well as technical contributions from experts. This process includes identifying the most critical issues, organizations, and individuals driving the debate towards change.

Tropical Forest Alliance: Brazil-China Sustainable Beef Alliance

Olab collaborated with the Tropical Forest Alliance (TFA) to design and launch the Sustainable Beef Alliance, the result of a series of business dialogues between companies and partners in Brazil and China aimed at promoting sustainable beef trade between the two countries.

Over two years, the Brazil-China Dialogues on Sustainable Beef involved developing a pathway to transform trade between these two major agricultural partners, with reflections and actions on the development of standards and criteria, traceability systems, and investments in transforming the Brazilian beef industry. Olab’s role included designing and implementing this important process of collective action, along with research and analysis that underpinned the dialogues.

The Beef Alliance, announced as part of the project, aims to secure long-term trade agreements between Brazil and China based on mutually agreed standards related to land use and forests.

GIZ: sustainable landscapes in Maranhão

GIZ is the German Government’s International Cooperation Agency which, through its AgriChains Initiative, supports the transition of agricultural commodities to more sustainable production models. Olab partnered with GIZ to design and facilitate a series of workshops in the state of Maranhão that brought together government, soy producers, companies, and civil society to build a multistakeholder plan for sustainable soy.

The collaborative plan established priority actions in traceability, technical assistance for producers, and governance, strengthening Maranhão’s position in sustainable soy production in compliance with EU regulations.

Aligned with state initiatives such as Maranhão 2050, the collaboration also integrated sustainable agricultural practices and included local communities in decision-making, ensuring holistic and socially inclusive solutions.

Marfrig: research and dialogue on beef traceability

The national cattle traceability system in Brazil still has room for improvement to reach the level of countries such as Uruguay and Australia, leaders in the sector. Marfrig, one of the country’s leading meat processors, commissioned Olab to conduct a benchmarking study on national traceability systems that could serve as a model for Brazil.

The research was presented during a meeting involving companies, government agencies, and NGOs working together to enhance traceability in the sector. Olab coordinated the subsequent workshop, resulting in a series of recommendations for the National Traceability System of the Ministry of Agriculture.

The project combined technical research with a carefully planned collective action process, culminating in the presentation of recommendations to the Ministry and ongoing dialogue on improving traceability in the sector.

Re.green: science, innovation, and business strategy

Re.green is a Nature-based Solutions technology (NBS-tech) company specialized in large-scale forest restoration in the Atlantic Forest and the Amazon, with an innovative approach that demands a significant focus on science and innovation to drive its efforts.

Olab facilitated the structuring and strategic planning process for re.green in the areas of science, innovation, and research and development (R&D). Consultations were conducted with strategic stakeholders, such as global science experts, board members, and re.green’s operational leaders.

The process resulted in an understanding of the role of science in the business model and its strategic and tactical implications, supporting the definition of R&D priorities, the organization of internal flows and processes, and the development of action plans.

PPA: Theory of Change for the Amazon

PPA – Parceiros Pela Amazônia is a multistakeholder platform aimed at increasing private investments in Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and environmental startups in the region. As part of an initiative to reshape its leadership approach, PPA engaged its members in the collaborative development of a new Theory of Change, aiming for positive transformation in the Amazon region.

Olab designed and led the process, involving stakeholders in reflecting on the why, what, and how of scaling the organization’s work. The Theory of Change was crafted to be simple enough for broad communication while still capturing the complexity of working in a challenging environment like the Amazon.

The resulting report from this process served as a strategic foundation to guide future interventions in the region, inspiring a new sense of purpose and action for the group.

SEPPE Pará: Organizational restructuring and planning

SEPPE (Deputy Secretariat for Strategic Policies, Special Projects, and the Bioeconomy of Pará State) is responsible for managing the strategic public policies of the government of Pará with a focus on sustainability and bioeconomy. In preparation for COP30, the Secretariat was restructured to address the complex range of projects under its responsibility.

Olab supported the leadership of SEPPE in redefining the organizational structure and management processes. Together, they developed a strategic management tool that facilitates quick and informed decisions on environmental and sustainability public policies in Pará.

The collaboration with Olab strengthened the Secretariat’s capacity to implement its strategic policies, ensuring greater efficiency and effectiveness in its actions, equipping it to face the challenges of COP30 more effectively.

Mombak: team building and culture

Mombak is an innovative company in the carbon market and forest restoration sector that values people and organizational culture as key to business success in a fast-paced learning environment involving scalable solutions.

Olab facilitated in-person workshops to accelerate team integration, develop skills, and strengthen organizational culture. Through practical activities and dialogue, participants shared experiences and aligned goals, focusing on enhancing individual skills and group cohesion.

As a result, Mombak improved internal collaboration and operational effectiveness, fostering a more positive and productive work environment, essential in a growing market.

MapBiomas: impact assessment of the platform

MapBiomas is a free collaborative platform providing land use information in Brazil (and other regions of the world) that assists governments, businesses, NGOs, funders, and academia in planning and decision-making.

Olab conducted an impact assessment of the platform using collaborative methods such as internal and external surveys, workshops with end-users (Rapid Outcome Assessments), interviews, case studies, and document analyses. Engaging a number of stakeholders, Olab developed a monitoring and evaluation cycle with key milestones and indicators, ensuring that the platform’s contributions were comprehensively understood.

The assessment results highlighted important learnings, existing tensions within the organization, and potential strategic pathways – crucial insights to guide future improvements and ensure the platform’s ongoing impact on sustainable land use.

Rainforest Alliance: Amazon Strategy

The Rainforest Alliance is an international organization focused on protecting tropical forests and their populations. Globally recognised for its work in certification and producer development, the organization sought to understand the context of the Brazilian Amazon as a guide to its strategy for action in the region.

In the first phase of the project, Olab conducted an extensive study for a region-wide situation analysis, with a specific focus on the bioeconomy as the main axis of action. Three territories were analyzed in detail, and five potential scenarios were outlined. In the second phase, two scenarios were prioritized for the strategy design, resulting in a strategic pitchbook for internal and external use, serving as a communication and alignment tool.

The strategy is the main guidance tool for operations in the country over the next five years, also serving as a focal point for external investments in the organization and with a direct impact on the quality of life of the populations in the selected areas.

Cofco: double materiality as a guide to strategy

Cofco International is one of the largest global companies in the agriculture and grain trading sector, with Brazil as its main source of products. In order to effectively and productively guide its sustainability strategy, Olab collaborated with Cofco in assessing the potential impacts of its activities globally and the global issues that could affect its performance, in light of new market demands and guidelines.

Olab updated the double materiality matrix, focusing on prioritization and strategic decision-making. Internal documents, international guidelines, sectoral documents, and benchmarking with similar companies were analyzed. The final matrix was included in the company’s sustainability report and strategic planning process, serving as a basis for both internal and external stakeholders.

The process resulted in more robust and informed strategies, enabling Cofco to progress in its sustainability journey with a clear understanding of challenges and opportunities. The integration of double materiality has become an essential strategic component for the company’s continued success.

University of Oxford: impacts of deforestation regulation in Brazil

Olab moderated a panel on the potential impacts of European Union deforestation regulation in Brazil. This dialogue was organized in collaboration with two interdepartmental initiatives at the University of Oxford: Oxford Net Zero and the Nature-based Solutions Initiative, which play crucial roles in advancing the debate on sustainable land use.

The challenge of academic research is its practical application and bridge with government policies and private sector actions. Olab ensured that cutting-edge research was evaluated in relation to the realities of productive landscapes in Brazil.

The thematic gathering brought together representatives from the Brazilian Ministry of the Environment, and the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. Aimed at a non-specialised audience, the panel was dynamic and informative, discussing whether EU regulation would truly change the game in terms of sustainable land use in Brazil and beyond, connecting academic research with the practical realities of the sector.