About

Codex Planetarius is a proof-of-concept project funded by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and led by the Markets Institute at World Wildlife Fund. During this initial phase, we will explore and hone the scope of Codex Planetarius, coordinate with others who are pursuing similar work, define transparent parameters, and make explicit assumptions to be discussed through peer review and public comments.

A rice farmer burns rice stubble.

Burning stubble on a harvested rice field in Malaysia. Alex Liew / iStock

How Codex Planetarius Will Work

Codex Planetarius will provide producers, governments and trade authorities with a baseline for environmental performance in the global trade of food and soft commodities. It won't replace what is already done. Rather, it will help build consensus about key impacts, how to measure them, and what performance should be for global trade. This will be more efficient, credible, enforceable, and cost-effective than individual governmental actions.

Codex Planetarius will aim to:

Aftermath of a forested area that was set fire to make way for grazing lands.

Habitat loss

A vast area of bleached coral in blue, shallow waters.

Biodiversity loss

Erosion in Madgascar reveals bright red, orange and cream colored soil beneath what was formerly covered in vegetation.

Soil health

A pipe pours water into a dry rice paddy to flood it.

Water take

Aerial view of an algal bloom close to the coast of some farmlands.

Water effluent

A forest is ablaze. Smoke and fire rise into the sky. Everything is red and orange and singed.

GHG emissions

Illegality

Cover of Codex Planetarius paper

The Codex Planetarius Vision

The Codex Planetarius concept was first formulated in 2014 by Jason Clay at WWF. This nine-page paper provides a concise introduction to Codex Planetarius and an overview of its initial development phases.

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Cover of Codex Planetarius fact sheet

Fact Sheet

Our fact sheet presents Codex Planetarius in concise form, complete with essential points and project goals—perfect for quick reference and sharing.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Questions about Codex Planetarius? Our FAQ page provides answers to many commonly asked questions.

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Close-up image of a printed document about Codex Alimentarius on a table.

Codex Alimentarius

Until the early 1900s virtually no rules governed the health and safety of food, placing the well-being of millions at risk. Over ensuing decades, thousands of confusing standards designed to protect consumers were created. These efforts, however, ultimately failed to address the global scope of this issue. In response, a pioneering set of global food safety standards, known as Codex Alimentarius, was established in 1963. Sixty years later, Codex Alimentarius remains the only internationally recognized standard for the health, safety, and phytosanitary conditions of food. Codex Planetarius will build on Codex Alimentarius' precedent, protecting the health and safety of the renewable natural resources used to produce food and soft commodities.

Shadowy silhouette of three individuals wearing hats in a field at sunset.

Next Steps

In the proof-of-concept phase, Codex Planetarius will be piloted in a half dozen countries to address many questions and generate the data necessary for Codex Planetarius to be introduced, initially through bilateral and then larger trade agreements. Formal launch dates and hosting mechanisms have not yet been determined.

Who We Are

The Markets Institute at WWF—in collaboration with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and The Food Systems, Land Use and Restoration Impact Program (FOLUR)—is undertaking this multiyear proof-of-concept phase for the development of Codex Planetarius. Other international groups, such as the World Bank, are funding additional studies. Many organizations, including the UN, Multilateral Development Banks and NGOs, are also providing in-kind contributions to explore key issues and convene on-going discussion groups around specific food production topics.