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This paper mainly discusses the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 - "End hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture". Hunger is one of the most pressing challenges facing mankind today. Food insecurity, malnutrition and unsustainable agricultural practices not only hinder global development, but also hinder global development. It also raises ethical questions about corporate responsibility in agriculture. So we will explore the ethical considerations related to SDG 2 by integrating academic articles, ethical theory and practical cases, and demonstrate that companies must adhere to ethical principles and align their operations with SDG 2 goals to strike a balance between productivity, community well-being and environmental sustainability.

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Ethical issues in agricultural enterprises and SDG 2

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Ethical issues in agricultural enterprises and SDG 2

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The role of agribusiness plays an important role in global food production and supply. However, the impact of their operations on global hunger is twofold: on the one hand, they promote productivity through investment and innovation in agricultural technology. For example, advanced enterprises have greatly improved the yield and quality of crops by adopting advanced agricultural machinery and refined management methods, thus meeting the growing global demand for food. By improving agricultural infrastructure and promoting modern agricultural practices, these companies can reduce waste in production processes and increase resource efficiency, thereby contributing to global food security in the short term.

On the other hand, these advances have also brought about a series of ethical problems, especially for local farmers and the environment have produced a lot of irreversible effects. Large-scale agricultural production generally relies on large-scale cultivation of a single variety, and while these crops are more productive, they can lead to the degradation of ecosystems. For example, over-farming can increase soil erosion, water pollution and biodiversity loss, thereby damaging the local natural environment. In addition, many agricultural companies pursue productivity gains but neglect sustainable land management, which greatly reduces the long-term value of healthy land and exacerbates the negative effects of global climate change. Moreover, the power imbalance of agribusiness in the global supply chain has led to difficulties for many small farmers. In order to increase productivity, some agricultural enterprises may adopt the strategy of acquiring small farms, which will cause farmers to lose their land use rights (Birhan Tadesse; Fentaw Baye,2024). This unequal distribution of resources not only causes farmers to lose their basic economic rights, but also aggravates social inequality and poverty. So these contradictions are a major obstacle to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2.

From an ethical point of view, these issues show that while companies drive agricultural productivity growth, they often ignore its long-term impact on the environment and grassroots workers. With the continuous development of economic globalization, in the modern agricultural supply chain, enterprises pay more attention to how to maximize economic benefits rather than how to achieve social and environmental sustainable development. Therefore, while promoting agricultural technology and productivity improvement, enterprises must pay more attention to social responsibility, including protecting farmers' land rights, respecting their production autonomy and taking measures to prevent environmental degradation.

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As large-scale agricultural practices play an increasingly important role in improving production efficiency and meeting growing global demand. A host of ethical challenges arise, particularly in environmental, social and health areas. These challenges not only affect all parts of the agricultural chain, but also pose a threat to the global Sustainable Development Goals. Therefore, enterprises must adopt relevant ethical solutions in decision-making to balance economic interests with social responsibilities.

l Overproduction and overutilization of resources

Large-scale agricultural production requires high levels of productivity, and the world relies on large-scale production to meet the growing demand for food, fuel and fiber. However, this mode of production may lead to over-exploitation of natural resources and even cause serious environmental impacts. For example, in order to expand farmland, the large-scale cutting down of trees and tropical rainforests has resulted in the destruction of the local ecosystem balance and the sharp decline of biodiversity, and the loss of habitat of many rare plants and animals. Not only that, but because trees and rainforests have an important impact on environmental cycles, overgrowth contributes to global climate change, making extreme weather events more frequent and destructive. In addition, many large agricultural enterprises use intensive farming methods to save costs, but due to the excessive use of fertilizers, pesticides and water resources, the soil and water are polluted and pose a threat to the health and quality of life of surrounding communities.

Secondly, the main cause of these problems is the excessive pursuit of short-term profits by some enterprises, putting short-term economic benefits above long-term environmental sustainability. By ignoring the finite nature of natural resources and the carrying capacity of ecosystems, this lack of scientific planning has had a profound negative impact on the global environment.

To address these challenges, companies need to review their production models and adopt more sustainable farming practices. For example, through the adoption of precision agriculture technology, optimize the efficiency of resource use and reduce over-dependence on water, fertilizers and pesticides. Or protect soil health by promoting diversification and rotation in production cultivation and avoid over-reliance on monoculture patterns. On the other hand, companies can also invest in new green high-tech technologies such as carbon capture and carbon neutrality, thereby reducing the negative impact of agricultural production on the climate. Agribusinesses can also strengthen cooperation with local communities and non-governmental organizations to shoulder their own corporate social responsibility. Only by developing a green and low-carbon agricultural model can we achieve a win-win situation between environmental protection and economic development while meeting human needs.

l Supply chain inequality

In the current development of global agricultural supply chains, inequality is particularly high, especially for farmers in developing countries. These farmers may be forced to sell their products at very low prices, but they are the front-line workers who put in the most effort and work under poor conditions, such as lack of adequate resources, technology and financial support to increase productivity. As a result, agricultural income hovers below the poverty line and cannot achieve sustainable development. So this inequality not only affects production, but also the extent to which consumers consume agricultural products, such as food security issues and price manipulation. As a result, poor farmers are in a weak position in the market, and some companies will use their dominant market position to manipulate prices, resulting in higher food costs for consumers or lower food quality.

On the other hand, enterprises must bear their own social responsibility in supply chain management. According to the principle of fair trade, the state can encourage enterprises to provide farmers with necessary technical support and resource training, so as to obtain higher quality products and reasonable price returns, so that farmers' productivity and quality of life can be improved. Second, companies should ensure transparency in the supply chain and strictly control food safety standards to avoid threats to consumer health caused by non-compliance. Finally, enterprises should also strive for reasonable price stability so that consumers have access to high-quality food at reasonable prices.

l Nutritional imbalance

In large-scale farming practices, companies give priority to growing economically efficient staple crops and crop feedstocks such as wheat, soy and palm oil, but these high-efficiency crops are low in vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients. While this crop can bring huge economic gains in the short term, in the long run it could have a negative impact on achieving global health goals. In many developing countries and emerging market economies, this single pattern of agricultural production has led to a homogenized agricultural structure, leaving people with a single source of dietary nutrients, and a lack of essential nutrients leading to an increased risk of anemia, vitamin deficiencies and other chronic diseases.

For example, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, over-reliance on the production of staple foods such as maize can lead to micronutrient deficiencies in poor communities, especially in poorer countries such as Africa. So companies should adjust their agricultural investment strategies to incorporate health goals into production and promote nutrient-rich crops, such as leafy greens, beans and orange fruits. The company can also help reduce food and nutrition insecurity through innovative technologies that improve the nutritional content of these crops.

Ultimately, by promoting nutritionally diverse agricultural practices, companies can not only drive a global nutritional balance, but also support the spread of healthy eating and provide consumers with richer, healthier food choices. This is not only a manifestation of corporate social responsibility, but also an important way to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 2).

In general, as the agricultural industry faces increasingly complex global challenges, companies should take ethical decisions that consider long-term environmental, social and health impacts. By implementing sustainable agricultural production patterns, promoting fairness in supply chains, and improving nutrition balance, companies can contribute to the achievement of the global Sustainable Development Goals while realizing economic benefits.

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Application of ethical theory in business decision-making

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Application of ethical theory in business decision-making

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In business decision-making, ethical theories provide an important framework for companies to measure and guide their behavior, and these theories can help companies make more ethical choices when balancing economic interests and social responsibilities.

Utilitarianism emphasizes that the behavior of enterprises should be aimed at achieving the interests of the greatest number of people (Nicholson, Peter,1997). So in agribusiness, companies increase food productivity by adopting sustainable technologies and management models. For example, some companies have significantly reduced water waste and increased crop yields by introducing drip irrigation and precision fertilization programs (Santoro, Antonio; Venturi, Martina; Bertani, Remo; Agnoletti, Mauro,2020). According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), such technologies can make water use twice as efficient as conventional irrigation, while increasing crop yields by 20 to 50 percent. However, utilitarianism also reminds companies that short-term gains should not come at the expense of ecological balance and long-term sustainability. If large-scale agricultural development leads to soil erosion and biodiversity decline, the impact on overall social well-being can be negative. Secondly, the ethics of rights emphasizes the protection of the basic rights of individuals and groups. In agriculture, this means respecting farmers' land tenure and protecting consumers' right to safe and healthy food (Donaldson, T. Preston, L. E.,1995). For example, some multinational agricultural companies have attracted international attention due to land grabs and the bankruptcy of small farmers, which directly contravenes the principles of ethical rights. In addition, consumers are increasingly concerned about food safety, and companies are responding to consumer demand for healthy food by certifying organic products and disclosing supply chain information. According to the United Nations Food Market, the global organic food market has been growing at an annual rate of more than 10% in recent years, reflecting the positive correlation between rights protection and corporate success. Finally, companies can also focus on the moral character and behavior of leaders through virtue ethics (Wallace, R. Jay,1989). In agribusiness, companies can expand global markets by demonstrating a corporate image of honesty, fairness and responsibility. For example, by supporting smallholder farmers to develop cooperative models, some enterprises provide them with technical training and market resources to enable them to compete in the broader market (Matten, Dirk; Crane, Andrew,2005). According to World Bank research, smallholder cooperatives can increase members' incomes by more than 30 percent, while reducing opacity and inequity in the middle of the market. Such transparent and accountable behavior not only contributes to the achievement of SDG 2 goals, but also enhances the reputation and long-term trust of companies.

Taken together, ethical theories provide comprehensive guidance for business decision-making through different perspectives. Utilitarianism focuses on maximizing the overall interests, right ethics focuses on the maintenance of individual basic rights, and virtue ethics emphasizes the moral quality of behavior. These three complement each other, providing a theoretical basis for enterprises to balance the pursuit of economic growth and social responsibility, and demonstrate their potential in promoting sustainable development through practical cases and data.

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The role of enterprises in implementing SDG 2

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The role of enterprises in implementing SDG 2

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Businesses have an important role to play in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2). First, this goal is not only about the global food supply, but also about socio-economic equity, environmental protection and global sustainable development. Companies can improve the efficiency of food production through technological innovation, supply chain management, ecological protection and community support, and take corporate responsibility for improving nutrition, reducing poverty and promoting social justice.

First, business investment in agricultural technologies and sustainable management models provides much of the support for SDG 2. By developing the application of many precision agriculture technologies, such as the use of satellite monitoring, sensors and automation equipment, the use of high-tech technology to improve food production efficiency. According to a report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO, 2018), these technologies have increased food production by more than 20 percent and reduced water use by 30 percent in some areas with severe hunger. For example, by promoting drought-tolerant crops and efficient fertilization techniques, global agriculture giant Monsanto has not only reduced pressure on natural resources but also increased yields. Not only that, but businesses can also support small-scale farming by developing agricultural technological innovations such as smart irrigation and climate-resilient seeds.

On the other hand, the supply chain management of enterprises is profound for agricultural development. Through transparent supply chain management and ethical sourcing policies, businesses can protect the interests of smallholder farmers and reduce the potential risks of global nutrition inequality. For example, under the UN's Rural Development Framework Programme, Nestle has built long-term partnerships with smallholder farmers, helping some 600,000 farmers around the world increase their incomes and productivity. By adopting sustainable agricultural practices, such as reducing fertilizer use and improving land management, large agribusinesses can both increase farmers' incomes and reduce the environmental impact of agricultural activities (Donaldson & Preston, 1995). This collaborative model not only improves the efficiency and fairness of the supply chain, but also establishes a good reputation for the enterprise, which is conducive to the future global expansion and development of the enterprise.

Secondly, ecological protection is also an important area for enterprises to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 2. This has led to a major crisis in global agricultural sustainability, with soil degradation, water overuse and biodiversity loss due to massive agricultural expansion. And I think regenerative agriculture is a solution that can restore soil health, increase carbon uptake, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by promoting better farming practices and making agriculture more productive. For example, Unilever, a large agricultural company, has introduced a regenerative farming model into its supply chain, which not only caters to the global trend of sustainability and benefits the company's corporate image, but also enhances the long-term stability of the supply chain (World Bank, 2021).

In addition, deep cooperation between businesses and communities also promotes socioeconomic equity. By supporting smallholder farmers and vulnerable groups, businesses can help vulnerable groups gain more access to resources, thereby reducing power imbalances and food insecurity. For example, Kraft Heinz supports agricultural community projects in African countries, improving local food supplies and increasing the income and economic resilience of communities by providing seeds, tools and market access to local farmers. However, these efforts need to be underpinned by ethical principles and rights protection to avoid the deprivation and oppression of vulnerable groups. Large-scale agricultural expansion may lead to the loss of land tenure by smallholder farmers and even exacerbate social inequality (De Schutter, 2012). Therefore, enterprises need to protect farmers' land rights and the sustainable development of communities while expanding production scale.

Overall, businesses can significantly advance SDG 2 by integrating agricultural technology innovation, transparent supply chain management, ecological protection and community support. While there may be ethical challenges and conflicts of interest in the implementation process, companies can contribute to global food security while creating sustainable business value for themselves through rights-protected and long-term vision decisions. This is not only the fulfillment of the enterprise's own social responsibility, but also for the enterprise to occupy a dominant position in the future market competition.

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Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2) is not only about global food security and improved nutrition, it is also key to addressing social inequalities and promoting sustainable agricultural development. In this process, the involvement of businesses is crucial, both as potential creators of the problem and as important enablers of the solution. Every step of enterprise action must be based on ethics as the core, rights protection and social justice as the premise, to avoid the pursuit of short-term economic interests and cause long-term social and environmental problems. In the future, companies will need to not only improve productivity through innovative technologies, but also strengthen cooperation with governments, non-governmental organizations and communities to resolve ethical and social conflicts arising from land use rights, resource allocation and ecological protection. At the same time, build transparent and fair supply chain mechanisms that integrate the interests of farmers, consumers and the environment into decision-making frameworks and ensure that their actions are consistent with SDG 2 goals. This not only creates broader value for the society, but also wins the reputation and long-term development space for the enterprise itself.

Ultimately, the achievement of SDG 2 requires the joint efforts of all parties, and corporate responsibility and contribution will undoubtedly be one of the core forces to achieve this goal. By combining ethical principles and innovative practices, businesses can promote food security and sustainable agricultural development while laying the foundation for a more equitable, just and prosperous world.