Foro Global sobre Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutrición (Foro FSN)

Dear Moderator and colleagues,

I would like to add some thoughts to contribute with this rich discussion:

We are convinced that diversifying and improving diets are essential to human health and nutrition. We also know that the world is facing hunger, undernutrition, stunting, obesity, heart problems, diabetes, high blood pressure and all these issues are connected in some ways with the malnutrition. On the other hand, diets are becoming more and more monotonous, less diversified, based on a limited number of crops such as rice, maize, sugar, oil, wheat, soya and other. An important issue to be discussed is how consumers and farmers in general and especially those poorly educated understand food diversification.

The food industries are using these few crops to create different food products /ultra processed food with the same ingredients , different appearance and different taste with a lot of added artificial colors and additives. These products have very attractive taste as well and can give consumers the idea that they have a diversified diet, that they are not eating the same thing. Consumers still need to be educated and convinced that these industrialized food products (ultra processed foods) do not necessarily contribute to their diet diversification. Furthermore, these ultra processed foods have very low cost and compete with local products and diversified crops.

Biodiversity brings us the possibility to review the food production and consumption, to reshape the local food systems with crops and crop varieties, thus to improve the diets. Nonetheless it is also necessary to transform crops to semi processed and processed foods that the ordinary population desire and feel prepared to include them in their daily consumption, Biodiversity is a window of opportunity to create a new diet culture and contribute to food security and better nutrition.

A biotechnology to revalorize wastewater producing a fertilizing liquid from organic farming land.



The problem of drinking water in the world is intimately linked to the problem of wastewater treatment, its main source of pollution.

Land earth, soil and the sub-soils, the environment, natural hydraulic environment, the aquifers serve as a –trash- disposal for wastewater treatment.

Waste water with a biological characteristic contains gold-ganie, a natural enrichment of the topsoil.

This liquid, which comes out of the "Fosse Biologique" process, contains water, fine particles of suspended organic matter, active bacterial flora, biochemical components (nitrogen, nitrate, potassium phosphate, ammonia, urea) a natural fertilizer.

This biotechnology is implemented in the form of a biological purification concept that is of interest to every place that consumes water daily for domestic purposes.

This biotechnology is established in all areas of the globe, anywhere, in any configuration, adapted to the production of wastewater: hotel, catering, industry, school, community, individual.

Regardless of the location of the biotechnology installation, the discharge of the liquid at the outlet from the device is dispersed on a vegetated outlet in addition to purification of the process. This biodiversity can serve as a food support for the habitat but also for the community of the disadvantaged.

The biotechnological concept of excreta treatment preserves the healthiness of areas with high habitat densities.

Biotechnology, which immediately recycles liquid from the process, provides a reduction in the abstraction of drinking water from underground reserves while preserving groundwater from pollution.

I would like to thank you for your interest in our Bio-technology for the biological purification of wastewater effluents.

Good reception

Cordially

Jean Marius D’Alexandris



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Scientific Communication

International Journal of Science and Research www.ijsr.net

- Organic matter by Lyseconcept

- Anaerobic does not exist on earth, anaerobic can not exist on our planet

- Scientific certification in general condition of habitual functioning of a habitat

- A Biotechnology for the final purification of excrements

- School Biology Conference

Inventor

- The "Fosse Biologique" process lyseconcept

- Biological Wastewater Treatment

- Biotechnology unique in the world of excreta treatment



Member of the Ordre des Experts International



"Protect today what we were told yesterday to better restore it tomorrow".

Dear Sir or Madam,

I would like to make a contribution to your discussion round on “Mainstreaming Biodiversity in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry for improved Food Security and better Nutrition”

1. EU-LIFE Project “Biodiversity in Standards and Labels for the Food Sector” aims at improving criteria from food standards and procurement guidelines in order to enhance biodiversity in agricultural production. Both, food standards and food companies from all across EU participate in this initiative. After a first analysis of 54 regional, national and international food standards and guidelines a baseline report on how far the schemes address biodiversity was published. Based on this paper and on further interactions with stakeholders and experiences from pilot farms a set of recommendations for the food sector was elaborated. This paper includes biodiversity measures for agricultural production which food standards and food companies should respect in their procurement guidelines and criteria catalogues. A great number of stakeholder will implement these measures in their standard review. To complete the mainstreaming of biodiversity, a monitoring system based on an online tool for potentials for biodiversity on the field is under development and will soon be available for testing. Additionally, a roundtable on the subject of Biodiversity in the Food Sector is about to be created were any interested stakeholder can contribute to the future role of this important topic.

For more information on the project, please visit: food-biodiversity.eu

Links:

Recommendations: http://www.business-biodiversity.eu/en/recommendations-biodiversity-in-standards

Baseline Report: http://www.business-biodiversity.eu/en/baseline-report

In case, more information on the project is needed and wanted, I am at your disposal.

With kind regards

Tobias Ludes

1.Biodiversity is an important contributor to food security and improved nutrition with biodiversity contributing in achieving food security and improved nutrition?

Soil biodiversity might provide the solution for sustainable agriculture. That means, to reduce conventional pesticides and fertilizers through application of biocontrol agents and as biofertilizers. We know, however, too little about the taxonomic and functional diversity of soil life for targeted applications. I am trying to expand this knowledge together with the Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative (GSBI) and at the same time try to manipulate soil biodiversity for enhanced crop production. Small companies in the Netherlands have now started to also realize the potential of sustainably promote plant growth by the addition of specific, novel biofertilizers and I am collaborating with them (e.g. https://www.ecostyle.nl/groensector/protoplusr and http://www.soiltech.nl/pages/en/home.php?lang=EN)

3. As mentioned above, the GSBI provides an international framework to bridge experts on all aspects of soil biodiversity around the globe. In line, I have started the soil protist initiative (https://soilprotists.wordpress.com/) in which the aim is increase the understanding of a little, yet important group of soil life: protists. Furthermore, UniEUK (https://unieuk.org/) is another global effort to increase the (taxonomic) understanding of little known eukaryotes, which brings together the entire scientific community working on mostly single celled eukaryotes.

In Wageningen, the Center for soil ecology (https://www.soilecology.eu/) was initiated that helps linking soil scientists working on all aspects of soil biodiversity with the public and private sectors to spread the importance of soil biodiversity.

All these initiatives are key to promote soil biodiversity as we are well aware that soil biodiversity forms the base for our well-being (Bardgett and van der Putten, 2014; Wall et al., 2015; Wall and Six, 2015).

Yet, more attention, a better connection between soil biodiversity science and e.g. politics, and diverse business sectors including agriculture need to be achieved, which will help to better study soil biodiversity before some members might go extinct. This will in the end result in a mutual benefit by all partners involved.

4.Diverse steps have to be taken and these have to start from all partners. Scientists have to become more aware of ongoing problems and need to engage in outreach outside their scientific community. At the same time, governmental (or FAO) supported platforms would help to bring different parties together and start these interactions. These would be beneficial both on a national but also international level to find a common ground for more efficient methods to promote sustainable agriculture and (soil) biodiversity at the same time.

References

Bardgett, R.D., and van der Putten, W.H. (2014) Belowground biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Nature 515: 505-511.

Wall, D.H., and Six, J. (2015) Give soils their due. Science 347: 695.

Wall, D.H., Nielsen, U.N., and Six, J. (2015) Soil biodiversity and human health. Nature 528: 69-76.

2) All agricultural sectors (crop and livestock, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture) rely on biodiversity and on the ecosystem functions and services, they underpin. At the same time, these sectors may affect biodiversity through various direct and indirect drivers.

Biodiversity plays a decisive role in ecosystem functioning. The most neglected part of biodiversity, namely soil biodiversity, provides significant ecosystem services, including processes related to nutrient cycling, but is affected by land use type. Specifically, extensive studies in agricultural areas across Europe with variable climatic conditions (de Vries et al. 2013, Tsiafouli et al. 2015) have shown that land use systems, such as intensive wheat rotations including annual tillage, consistently reduce biomass and diversity of several groups of soil organisms irrespective of soil abiotic properties.

3) Good governance, enabling frameworks, and stewardship initiatives are needed to facilitate mainstreaming of biodiversity within and across agricultural sectors.

Our study (Tsiafouli et al. 2013) has shown that agricultural activities, regarding crops, livestock and forestry, are present in 86% of sites belonging to the Natura 2000 network (European network of areas for nature conservation). Taking into consideration that agriculture relies on biodiversity but also affects biodiversity, there is a need for a closer cooperation between initiatives of both the agricultural as well as the conservation sector. A common goal would be to both conserve biodiversity but also optimize the delivery of multiple ecosystem services. A Frontiers research topic (Tsiafouli et al. 2017) shows how biodiversity/ecosystem based management regimes can enhance both agricultural production and the provision of multiple ecosystem services.

References:

De Vries F.T., E. Thébault, M. Liiri, K. Birkhofer, M.A. Tsiafouli, L. Bjørnlund, H.B. Jørgensen, M.V. Brady, S. Christensen,  P.C. De Ruiter, T. D'Hertefeldt, J. Frouz, K. Hedlund, L. Hemerik, W.H.G. Hol, S. Hotes., S.R. Mortimer, H. Setälä, S.P. Sgardelis, K. Uteseny, W.H. Van Der Putten, V. Wolters & R.D. Bardgett (2013). Soil food web properties explain ecosystem services across European land use systems. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 110: 14296-14301.

Tsiafouli M.A., E. Thébault, S.P. Sgardelis, P.C. De Ruiter, W.H. Van Der Putten, K. Birkhofer, L. Hemerik, F.T. De Vries, R.D. Bardgett, M.V. Brady, L. Bjornlund, H.B. Jørgensen, S. Christensen, T. D'Hertefeldt, S. Hotes, W.H. Hol, J. Frouz, M. Liiri, S.R. Mortimer, H. Setälä, J. Tzanopoulos, K. Uteseny, V. Pižl, J. Stary, V. Wolters, & K. Hedlund (2015). Intensive agriculture reduces soil biodiversity across Europe.  Global Change Biololgy 21, 973–985.

Tsiafouli M.A., E.G. Drakou, A. Orgiazzi, K. Hedlund & K. Ritz (2017) Editorial: Optimizing the Delivery of Multiple Ecosystem Goods and Services in Agricultural Systems. Frontiers in Ecology &  Evolution 5:97. https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/3651/optimizing-the-delivery-of-multiple-ecosystem-goods-and-services-in-agricultural-systems

Tsiafouli M.A., E. Apostolopoulou, A. Mazaris, A. Kallimanis, E. Drakou & J. Pantis (2013). Human activities in Natura 2000 sites: a highly diversified conservation network. Environmental Management 51:1025-33.

3) Do you have any examples of such enabling factors and initiatives or the lack of it? Which partners need to be involved in institutional frameworks, policies and processes for biodiversity mainstreaming to strengthen them?

4) What needs to be done to increase awareness of farmers, livestock keepers, fisher folks and foresters, their organizations and the industry of the relevance of biodiversity and ecosystem services for the food and agriculture production in their sector? How can the technical and institutional capacity needed to promote sustainable agriculture and reduce the impact on biodiversity be developed?

Good governance and enabling framework—Lessons from the Pacific SIDS

Mainstreaming biodiversity requires a coordinated effort of high-level engagement with the national government, traditional leaders and international organizations. In the SIDS country of Palau, traditional leaders sit as special advisory council to Office of the President. Recognizing the needs and trends of the people and the effects on the environment and national resources the Council of Chiefs work closely with the President to ensure laws and regulations are aligned with traditional wisdom and grassroots needs. The Micronesia Challenge ,Palau National Shark Sanctuary, Protected Areas Network and Palau National Marine Sanctuary are based on the traditional conservation practice called bul whereby village chiefs in observance of depleting fish stocks enforce a temporary ban on specific species ensuring the natural processes of spawning and feeding enable the replenishment of fish stocks and securing the long-term livelihoods of fisherfolk and the tourism industry. The Green Fee is an environmental use fee paid by visitors to fund enforcement at the local level. In many SIDS countries tourism is the breadbasket of the economy and exploitation of natural resources leads to the permanent loss of biodiversity. In mainstreaming best practices toward conservation of biodiversity Palau introduced an innovative law in December 2017 requiring tourists to pledge not to harm the environment. Immigration and education policies were altered to promote and enforce the discouragement of irresponsible tourism for the benefit of the future generation of Palau (The Palau Pledge).

Could you share examples/activities in your work where a(n) (unsustainable) production system played a key role for the degradation of the biodiversity surrounding it?

Impact of farming on bowalization in Benin, West Africa

Bowal (plural bowé) is a particular form of degraded land that occurs in tropical regions and leads to the exposure of ferricretes, which are unsuitable for farming. Bowé are more common on farmland and degraded savanna. Changes in land use/land cover were used to map a region of 6.7 million ha in northern Benin, West Africa in 1975, 1990 and 2010. The changes observed during these periods (1975-1990, 1990-2010 and 1975-2010) were used to predict the occurrence of bowé in the period up to 2050 using Markovian chain analysis.

The findings publsihed in Land Use Policy (Padonou et al 2017) showed a considerable change in land use/land cover during the three periods. The types of land on which bowé occur (farmland and degraded savanna) increased in northern Benin by 5.4% per year during the period 1975-1990 and 9.5% per year during the periods 1990-2010, while the natural vegetation (forest, woodland and tree savanna) decreased by the same amount. The future scenarios also predicted the same trend. In the period 1975-1990, 1.28 million ha (26%) of natural vegetation was converted to degraded savanna and farmland while 2.23 million ha (53%) of natural vegetation was converted to degraded savanna and farmland in the period 1990-2010. Based on the dynamics recorded during the period 1975-1990 and 1990-2010 respectively, a total of 1.28 million ha (26% of the natural vegetation that was present in 1975) and 1.29 million ha (31% of the natural vegetation that was present in 1990) will be converted to farmland and degraded savanna in the study area by 2050.

Thus bowalization will persist and increase in the period up to 2050. The natural vegetation could disappear if protection and restoration measures are not taken.

Mainstreaming biodiversity in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry for improved Food Security and better Nutrition.

2.  an unsustainable? Production system plays a key role in degradation of the biodiversity surrounding it.

Broad acre arable agriculture in south eastern Australia.  The system studied was a low tillage/direct drilled system growing  wheat/canola/lupins in a rotation and a separate system with continuous cotton.   The surrounding native vegetation is each case supports a native soil fauna (Collembola) comprising upwards of 20 species with few if any exotic species.  The arable systems carry mostly exotics with few natives. In long term trials the native species disappear. 

The conclusion is that broad acre arable agriculture of a range of crops in south east Australia contribute nothing to native biodiversity and only promote exotic invasive species.

3. Mainstreaming of native biodiversity

Conservation farming which includes broad strips of native plantings around cropping and pasture fields which is adopted by a few farmers in western Victoria, Australia,  provides habitats for native species, particular predators.  Examples of these conservation farms will be surveyed shortly.

The partners that need to promote this conservation farming are the Catchment Management Agencies, Land Care Groups, Farming Cooperatives, local councils and State governments.

 

4. Education of management and other authorities of the contribution of biodiversity.

Raising awareness in all those persons managing land must be via media that is used by these practitioners.  I suggest they all use meteorological services and regional agricultural information sources.  Methods could be via information sheets but better interactive online games that allow different options such as different levels of pesticides, tillage,  native vegetation plantings, seed treatments and density etc and models showing the different outcomes of each option separately and in combination to pesticide levels in crops, value of ecosystem services, production and economic and social benefits.

Increased knowledge of the benefits and otherwise in the options can only be advanced by increased research.  The answer, as always, to solve this is financial support for increased research including university places in agricultural faculties and Tafes.

Climate change is already talking its toll on biodiversity and the path humanity has taken of extensive mono crop  production with no regard to biodiversity has put  enormous strain in ecosystems around the globe, 

Plants are key players in any healthy biota. Atmospheric carbon  is transformed in to and organic carbon that is then incorporated to the food web. Humanity's  food security ,dependent on mono crops like soya, corn,wheat and rice is threatened by climate change and the availability of water sources for irrigation.  The crops mention above follow a C3 and C4 photosynthetic pathway which needs regular water availability. The norm with climate change are irregular rain patterns and an increase of global temperatures. We need to plan ahead.

Crassulacean Acid Metabolism plants  follow a different photosynthetic pathway one that evolved to be successful in the type of environment we are facing. Their stomata, tiny openings that allow the exchange of gases open an night when the temperatures are cooler, sequester the atmospheric carbon and store it as  malic acid, during the day when temperatures rise, they close the stomata minimizing water lose through perspiration and complete their photosynthetic cycle.

Mexico holds the most diverse concentration on cam-plants in the planet and humans here for millennia have been successful in incorporating them as food sources and in many other useful applications that need to be shared .

Permaculture design that incorporates the holistic management of grassland and cam-plants can help restore food security in conflict ridden arid regions around the globe. Same regions that are now triggering mass migrations to northern latitudes caused by the underlying consequence of loss of livelihood. 

The agave and cactus is are an important part of the xeric grasslands and scrublands ecosystems, they give nourishment and shelter to a myriad of organisms, help water retention and can be used as anchors to slow erosion, help soil formation and sequester carbon in environments that by nature have slow carbon cycles.

Governing sectors, nonprofits in hand with international agencies can coordinate affords to propagate and educate local farmers to incorporatee indigenous species of cam plants that con be used for sustainable fodder and human consumption in times of drought.

At the Federal and State level, Mexico has implemented programs to propagate cam-plants with a varied rate of success and the experience can be used as a precursor template to implement propagation programs around the globe, in fact many useful species of cam-plants can readily be micro-propagated at relatively low cost.

Below we added some links that can be useful to illustrate some State sponsored efforts to propagate agaves in Mexico.

 http://www.sederec.cdmx.gob.mx/comunicacion/nota/sederec-apoya-proyecto…

http://biblioteca.inifap.gob.mx:8080/jspui/bitstream/handle/123456789/1…

cam-plants.com is an effort from the civil to bring awareness and incorporate Crassulacean Acid Metabolism plants to our food cycles to face our global warming paradigm. Link academics, farmers and the general public to generate effective propagation strategies.