Science and Innovation are key to halting the loss of biodiversity

“Science and innovation are key to ensuring that decision-making processes could take full account of biodiversity concerns,” said FAO Deputy Director-General, Maria Helena Semedo at the European Research and Innovation (R&I) Days event "Biodiversity rich farming systems: let's make it happen!" 

Semedo pointed out that while the soon-to-be adopted post-2020 global biodiversity framework will protect and conserve at least 30 percent of the planet by 2030, we cannot forget the other 70 percent of the planet that we must manage sustainably.

In parallel with the European Green Deal and its Farm to Fork and Biodiversity Strategies, FAO adopted the strategy on mainstreaming biodiversity across agricultural sectors, which provides a roadmap for the Organization to promote sustainable agricultural practices and to conserve, enhance, preserve, restore and sustainably use biodiversity across agrifood systems.

"To see the change happen, we must improve cross-sectoral collaboration with involvement of all stakeholders: managers of biodiversity, farmers, livestock keepers, foresters, and fisherfolk. FAO continues to work hand in hand with the environment sector along with the entire food systems to support the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity" added Semedo.

R&I Days is the European Commission's annual flagship Research and Innovation event, bringing together policymakers, researchers, entrepreneurs, and the public to debate and shape the future of research and Innovation in Europe and beyond. The two-day event has attracted more than 21 000 registered participants from 105 countries.

Science and Innovation to achieve food systems transformation is also the theme of the upcoming FAO Brussels Dialogue, hosted in the context of the United Nations Food Systems Summit Science Days. Experts will provide their perspectives on which governance mechanisms are needed at global, regional and country level to ensure an efficient dialogue between science and policy-making and how it can help support farmers through better access to knowledge, science, innovations, technologies and capacity-building.

Furthermore, and in order to continue the global dialogue on agricultural biodiversity reservation, FAO and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) will organize a webinar "Global Dialogue and High-level Segment on the Role of Food and Agriculture in the Global Biodiversity Framework" from 6-7 July, with the participation of Commissioner for Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski.