Conference Report - AGC's Roger Tissot on the Initiatives in Art and Culture's 14th Annual Gold + Diamon Conference

‍The 14th Annual Initiatives in Art and Culture Gold + Diamond Conference brought together diverse leaders from different jewelry and mining industries to address the global jewelry sector's complex global challenges. While the conference offered a broad overview of the industry, one issue stood out: the critical need for sustainable and responsible artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM). The Artisanal Gold Council (AGC), a non-profit dedicated to transforming the lives of artisanal miners, was present to share its unique approach and vision for the future of gold mining.

The Complexities of the Gold Industry

The conference underscored the pressing and intricate web of factors influencing the gold industry, including climate change, social justice, economic development, and market access. These issues are not just interconnected, but they demand immediate attention. The industry is grappling with the urgent need to balance environmental protection, human rights, and economic growth. One crucial aspect mentioned during the conference is the emotional nature of jewelry purchases and the importance of expressing values in the artistic work produced by jewelry designers.

I argue that gold demand presents an added complexity. A piece of gold jewelry can be purchased because of its emotional connection with the purchaser. An emotional purchase would not be "rational" in the sense that the buyer's only calculation is price. But most of the gold purchased globally is from central banks and investors, for whom the focus is risk management and rate of return. Their decision is, in theory, "rational."

Therefore, gold behaves as a commodity, with limited room for price differentiation.

AGC: A Focused Approach to a Complex Problem

Amidst the broad-ranging discussions, AGC stood out for its practical approach. Unlike many organizations that address the challenges of ASGM from a macro perspective, AGC is laser-focused on execution. It provides a comprehensive framework for artisanal miners, from site selection, technology choices, business planning and training on an array of issues such as gold production traceability, mercury utilization and health care impacts, women empowerment in ASGM, environmental and human rights best practices, etc. AGC's practical approach reassures the audience about the effectiveness of its solutions, empowering communities to develop sustainable and responsible operations. 

AGC's franchise model is a cornerstone of its approach. By decentralizing operations, AGC ensures that local needs and conditions are prioritized. This model also fosters a sense of ownership among miners, leading to increased motivation and success.

The Importance of Formalization

A surprising revelation from the conference was the need for more emphasis on formalization and mineral rights regulations. AGC believes that these are not just essential, but crucial components of any sustainable mining operation. With a clear regulatory framework, technological advancements and best practices improve. AGC is committed to advocating for policies that support formalization and responsible mining. As such, AGC is always ready to share its advice and experience with government authorities and regulators regarding formalization processes.

Moreover, AGC makes considerable efforts to work closely and in partnership with the government authorities of the countries we operate in. We have developed several capacity-building programs for government regulators, allowing them to assess the impact and implications of their different policy and regulatory options.

AGC: A Partner for the Future

While AGC is a small organization, it has had a global impact thanks to the numerous publications, studies, and reports it has produced. As we enter a new era, AGC's focus is on becoming a trusted and reliable long-term partner to the ASGM community and government authorities aimed at addressing the sector's challenges and professionalizing artisanal and small-scale gold mining activities. 

By demonstrating a clear understanding of the challenges faced by artisanal miners and offering practical solutions, AGC is positioning itself as a valuable partner to governments, industry leaders, and funding agencies.