Delegates from 139 countries convened at FAO Headquarters in Rome for the resumed meeting of the Sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP16.2) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the meeting was a continuation of COP16, held in Cali, Colombia, between October and November 2024. 

As the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP16) talks resume at FAO Headquarters in Rome, FAO’s publication on Delivering on the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework through Agrifood Systems has been released in all six UN languages.

Rome – Alors que plus de 150 pays se sont réunis à Rome pour la reprise de la 16e session de la Conférence des parties à la Convention des Nations Unies sur la diversité biologique (COP16.2), l’Organisation des Nations Unies pour l’alimentation et l’agriculture (FAO) appelle à prendre des mesures audacieuses afin de transformer les systèmes agroalimentaires et de défendre les objectifs mondiaux en matière de biodiversité. La veille de la session, la FAO a organisé une réunion de haut niveau au siège de l’Organisation, pendant laquelle elle a mis l’accent sur le fait que les systèmes agroalimentaires devaient évoluer en harmonie avec la biodiversité pour garantir un avenir durable aux populations et à la planète. 

Qu’il s’agisse d’utiliser des semences indigènes plus résilientes, d’associer les caféiers et les bananiers ou de reconstituer les populations de pollinisateurs, la biodiversité n’est pas un concept abstrait dont débattent les scientifiques et les militants. Elle se retrouve dans un ensemble d’actions concrètes essentielles pour la sécurité alimentaire et l’environnement, que les agriculteurs accomplissent dans leur travail quotidien.

How can biodiversity meet people’s needs within agrifood systems? FAO, the CBD Secretariat, and the Government of Colombia will spotlight solutions at the special event "Meeting People’s Needs through Sustainable Use of Biodiversity within Agrifood Systems”, which will take place on 24 February 2025 ahead of the resumed session of COP16.2, addressing key global biodiversity strategies and the Agri-NBSAPs Support Initiative.

Pulses bring diversity to our agrifood systems in multiple ways: on the farm, in our diets and through value-added products. They boost biodiversity on farms by enriching cropping systems with more species. With more than 100 types of pulses available, farmers have many options for crop rotations and/or intercropping. Consumers can enjoy pulses as part of healthy diets.

This report highlights nitrogen’s critical role in supporting agricultural production, food security, and economic growth. However, unsustainable nitrogen management has severe consequences, including environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, and climate change. Balancing nitrogen use in agrifood systems is key to maintaining soil health, improving air and water quality, and addressing the interconnected challenges of pollution, climate change, and biodiversity conservation. If you are an FAO Member or an agrifood stakeholder interested in understanding nitrogen challenges in agrifood systems and exploring solutions to improve sustainable nitrogen management, this event is a valuable opportunity to explore key findings and discuss pathways to sustainable nitrogen.

The adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) at COP15 of the CBD marked a significant commitment to a world living in harmony with nature. The KMGBF outlines ambitious goals and 23 targets for 2030, with agrifood systems playing a crucial role in their achievement. Target 10 specifically commits countries to sustainably managing areas under agriculture, aquaculture, fisheries, and forestry, including through the sustainable use of biodiversity. To implement the KMGBF, countries are developing and implementing National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) and monitoring their implementation. A draft guidance document was coordinated by FAO to assist governments and other agrifood stakeholders in their efforts to implement the KMGBF, taking target 10 as an entry point for agrifood systems. This consultation seeks reviews, suggestions and input, including proposals for relevant examples, materials, and case studies, to illustrate and inform the draft Guidance for Target 10.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has unveiled two new online resources to support countries and stakeholders in restoring degraded ecosystems. An interactive digital version of the Resource Guide to Target 2 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and a complementary e-learning course aim to provide practical tools that make restoration planning, monitoring and reporting more accessible and actionable.

The digital guide transforms the original resource into a dynamic, user-friendly platform. Designed to simplify navigation and enhance engagement, the guide uses interactive features such as clickable visuals, embedded case studies, and linked references. These features allow users to explore restoration approaches while tailoring the guidance to their specific contexts. The digital format ensures wider accessibility, enabling policymakers, field practitioners, and technical experts to interact with content better.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has welcomed a decision to hold at its headquarters in Rome, Italy the resumed sessions of the UN Biodiversity Conference, including the Sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) from 25 to 27 February 2025. 

In October 2024, delegates from 196 countries met in Cali to discuss the state of implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) and the global progress in conserving and sustainably using biodiversity. At COP16, countries were able to adopt several key and monumental decisions, but a number of draft decisions were not considered by the final plenary and are therefore pending adoption. 

At COP16 in Cali, Colombia, the side event showcased efforts to align regional plans with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, aiming to support sustainable agriculture and environmental protection.

The Delivering Restoration Outcomes for Biodiversity and Human Well-being Resource Guide is a collaborative tool from FAO, CBD, and the Society for Ecological Restoration aimed at helping countries meet Target 2 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. 

FAO presented at COP16 its progress in Latin America and the Caribbean towards the targets set in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which outlines concrete goals for the protection of global biodiversity.

The FAO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean underscored at COP16 the crucial role of food systems in tackling climate change and the loss of marine and terrestrial biodiversity. It maintained a full agenda, emphasizing the importance of climate financing, the One Health approach, pollinators, the bioeconomy, protected areas, and restoration in achieving these objectives.

FAO's participation at COP16 in Cali, Colombia, spotlighted the essential role of agrifood systems in advancing biodiversity goals. Under the theme "Peace with Nature," FAO engaged leaders to prioritize sustainable agriculture in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, supporting global efforts to combat biodiversity loss and climate change. Through numerous events and partnerships, FAO emphasized transformative agrifood solutions to secure a sustainable future.

Rome – In anticipation of COP29, FAO has released a new report examining biodiversity actions within agrifood systems in countries' NDCs. Findings reveal critical opportunities to align climate action with biodiversity and food security, especially by addressing gaps in aquaculture and non-forest ecosystems.

Joint Op-Ed by COP16 President and Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development Susana Muhamad and Kaveh Zahedi, Director of FAO Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment.

Pour respecter les engagements historiques de la COP15, il faut désormais intégrer les systèmes agroalimentaires dans les stratégies et plans d’action nationaux pour la biodiversité.

The 2024 UN Biodiversity Conference, including the sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), will be held in Cali, Colombia from 21 October to 1 November 2024.