Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition (FSN Forum)

Dear Members of the Forum,

Thank you for your contributions. You raise very important points in relation to mainstreaming of biodiversity in agriculture, fisheries and forestry for improved food security and better nutrition. Also, thank you for pointing to specific examples from India, Nigeria, French Polynesia, Tanzania, Nepal, USA, Benin, Iran, Colombia and others.               

Thank you also for pointing out that the mainstreaming of biodiversity across agricultural sectors will be only possible if the adoption of good practices across all agricultural sectors will support biodiversity conservation as well as increasing the productivity, stability and resilience of production systems. It is therefore fundamental to take advantage from lessons learned in raising awareness at the institutional level as well as involving all relevant stakeholders, including farming communities, to ensure effective practices in mainstreaming biodiversity.

Some contributions mention that biodiversity mainstreaming takes place in landscapes and seascapes and targets two groups of biodiversity, the ‘wild’ one that is used by fisheries and forestry, and the ‘domesticated’ that is used in crop and livestock agriculture”, and that management approaches and stakeholders differ between those groups. Others mention the importance of traditional knowledge of farming communities, but also the need for new knowledge and capacity development, in order to make practices more sustainable. Legislation and favourable market conditions are mentioned as supporting mechanisms.

The link between mainstreaming of biodiversity in agricultural sectors for food security and better nutrition is key. Here, we invite you to further reflect on what change/ type of coordination is needed to connect biodiversity with policies and legislation from different sectors (Education, Health, Agriculture, Gender) to enhance food security and nutrition. Also, how can food value chains prioritize biodiversity in different areas to diversified supply of domestic and exportable products contributing to food security and nutrition?

Ultimately, success will be associated with joining forces with other sectors (e.g. public health, education) and partners (e.g. UN agencies, NGOs etc.) with the ultimate objective of developing an alternative, transformational change towards sustainable food systems, including further guidance on the concept of “sustainability” in food and agriculture with regard to biodiversity.

I look forward to reading more of your contributions during the next week of this discussion.

Paulo Augusto and Irene