A Whole Earth Approach to Nature-Positive Food: Biodiversity and Agriculture

Agriculture is the largest single source of environmental degradation, responsible for over 30% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, 70% of freshwater use and 80% of land conversion: it is the single largest driver of biodiversity loss (Foley JA, Science 309:570–574, 2005, Nature 478:337–342, 2011; IPBES. Global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. IPBES Secretariat, Bonn, 2019; Willett W et al. The Lancet 393:447–492, 2019). Agriculture also underpins poor human health, contributing to 11 million premature deaths annually. While too many still struggle from acute hunger, a growing number of individuals, including in low to middle-income countries (LMICs), struggle to access healthy foods. Greater consideration for, and integration of, biodiversity in agriculture is a key solution space for improving health, eliminating hunger and achieving nature-positive development objectives. This rapid evidence review documents the best available evidence of agriculture’s relationships with biodiversity, drawing on the contributions of leading biodiversity experts, and recommends actions that can be taken to move towards more biodiversity/nature-positive production through the delivery of integrated agricultural solutions for climate, biodiversity, nutrition and livelihoods. The analysis, which takes a whole-of-food-system approach, brings together a large body of evidence. It accounts for aspects not typically captured in a stand-alone primary piece of research and indicates where there are critical gaps.

Fil: Declerck, Fabrice A.J.. The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture ; Francia

Fil: Koziell, Izabella T.. The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development; Nepal

Fil: Benton, Tim. Chatham House; Reino Unido

Fil: Garibaldi, Lucas Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones En Recursos Naturales, Agroecologia y Desarrollo Rural. - Universidad Nacional de Rio Negro. Instituto de Investigaciones En Recursos Naturales, Agroecologia y Desarrollo Rural.; Argentina

Fil: Kremen, Claire. University of British Columbia; Canadá

Fil: Maron, Martine. University of Queensland; Australia

Fil: Rumbaitis Del Rio, Cristina. World Resources Institute; Estados Unidos

Fil: Sidhu, Aman. The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agricultura; Francia

Fil: Wirths, Jonathan. The Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centers ; Sri Lanka

Fil: Clark, Michael. University of Oxford; Reino Unido

Fil: Dickens, Chris. International Water Management Institute; Sri Lanka

Fil: Estrada Carmona, Natalia. The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture ; Francia

Fil: Fremier, Alexander K.. Washington State University; Estados Unidos

Fil: Jones, Sarah K.. The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture ; Francia

Fil: Khoury, Colin K.. The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture ; Francia

Fil: Lal, Rattan. Ohio State University; Estados Unidos

Fil: Obersteiner, Michael. University of Oxford; Reino Unido

Fil: Remans, Roseline. The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture ; Francia

Fil: Rusch, Adrien. Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique; Francia

Fil: Schulte, Lisa A.. Natural Resource Ecology and Management; Estados Unidos

Fil: Simmonds, Jeremy. University of Queensland; Australia

Fil: Stringer, Lindsay C.. University of York; Reino Unido

Fil: Weber, Christopher. World Wide Fund For Nature; Estados Unidos

Fil: Winowiecki, Leigh. World Agroforestry Center; Kenia