As the COP16 summit in Cali, Colombia wraps up, it has become increasingly clear that the preservation of biodiversity and the fight against food insecurity are inextricably linked. This article delves into the intricate relationship between the world's biological richness and the food we consume, shedding light on the critical importance of safeguarding our planet's natural diversity.

Nourishing the Future: Biodiversity's Role in Sustaining Our Food Supply

The Delicate Balance of the Food Chain

The health and resilience of our food systems are intrinsically tied to the delicate balance of the natural world. As Simon Kraemer, policy steward for regenerative agrifood systems at the European Alliance for Regenerative Agriculture (EARA), eloquently states, "There is no human food without the food chain, from the smallest microorganism transforming the inorganic to the organic to the largest ruminants enhancing ecosystem functioning in the largest terrestrial biome on earth – grasslands." This interconnectedness underscores the vital role that biodiversity plays in sustaining the very foundations of our food production.

The Decline of Biodiversity and Its Impact on Food Security

Over the past two millennia, the shift towards more exploitative agricultural practices, such as the widespread use of ploughs and the segregation of plant and animal cultivation, has led to a concerning decline in global biodiversity. Tom Stuart, senior policy advisor at the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), warns that "Soil health is highly impacted by biodiversity, which in turn affects the way plants grow." This deterioration of soil health, a complex ecosystem teeming with living organisms, has far-reaching consequences for food production, making it harder to grow the crops we rely on.

The Ecosystem Services Provided by Biodiversity

Biodiversity is not just about the diversity of species; it also provides essential "ecosystem services" that are crucial for food production. As Stuart explains, these services include pollination, pest control, and waste decomposition. When biodiversity decreases, these services are reduced, making it increasingly challenging to maintain a reliable and sustainable food supply. The collapse of local pollinator populations, for instance, has forced some Chinese growers to pollinate cherry trees by hand, a labor-intensive and unsustainable solution.

The Fragility of Food Systems Without Biodiversity

EARA's Kraemer emphasizes that without biodiversity, "production will be more fragile, crop diseases more prevalent, and food less nutritious." This stark warning underscores the critical role that biodiversity plays in ensuring the long-term viability and resilience of our food systems. As climate change and other environmental stressors continue to impact agricultural productivity, the need to safeguard biodiversity becomes increasingly urgent.

Regenerative Agriculture: A Path to Restoring Biodiversity

While the relationship between biodiversity and food security is complex, there are solutions on the horizon. WWF's Stuart suggests that regenerative agriculture, which includes practices such as reduced plowing, lower livestock stocking rates, and the use of fewer artificial inputs, can help to support and even increase biodiversity. These approaches, often supported by government schemes like Environmental Land Management (ELM) in England and Pillar 2 of the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), offer a promising way to strike a balance between food production and ecosystem preservation.

The Significance of COP16 and the Road Ahead

The COP16 summit in Cali, Colombia, marked a significant step forward in recognizing the importance of biodiversity for food security. Governments agreed to establish a fund dedicated to sharing the benefits from using digital sequence information (DSI) from genetic resources, which could have important implications for agriculture and conservation. However, discussions on a wider biodiversity fund were put on hold, and progress on the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which aims to halt and reverse further nature loss by 2030, also faced setbacks.As the world prepares for the upcoming COP19 summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, the focus on the food-biodiversity nexus is expected to continue. Policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders must work together to develop comprehensive strategies that prioritize the preservation of biodiversity as a means of ensuring long-term food security and sustainability.