Fixing food systems key to protecting biodiversity

On Biodiversity Day, we look at how changing what we eat can help restore harmony with nature

On 22 May, the world marks the International Day for Biodiversity under the theme ‘Harmony with Nature and Biodiversity: Building a Better Future for All’. It’s a timely reminder that safeguarding biodiversity requires systemic change – not only through policy, but also through shifts in how we produce and consume food. Our food systems play a central role in driving biodiversity loss, but they can also become part of the solution.

We’re now facing the sixth mass extinction in Earth’s history – but this time, the cause isn’t an asteroid or a volcanic eruption. It’s us. And what we eat has a lot to do with it.¹

Food systems are driving biodiversity loss

Agriculture uses more than half of the planet’s habitable land and is the leading cause of global deforestation.² Between 2000 and 2018, it was responsible for around 90% of deforestation globally.³ Deforestation and land conversion destroys the habitats of countless species, from mammals and birds to fungi and microbes.

More than 27,000 species are threatened by agriculture, according to data from the International Union for Conservation of Nature.⁴ That’s more than half of all species that have been assessed as being at risk of extinction.

At the heart of the problem is industrial animal agriculture. Livestock farming takes up nearly 80% of global agricultural land while producing less than 20% of the world’s calories.⁵ It’s not just inefficient – it’s devastating for ecosystems. Producing animal feed, clearing forests, and grazing animals are all major drivers of biodiversity loss.⁶

Biodiversity and food security go hand in hand

Ironically, while today’s food systems are harming biodiversity, they also depend on it. Nature provides critical ecosystem services to support agriculture. These include healthy soils, pollination, natural pest control, and water purification. Without them, our food systems would collapse.

At the same time, our diets have become less diverse. Of the more than 6,000 plant species that have been historically cultivated for food, fewer than 200 now make a meaningful contribution to global food production – and just nine crops account for two-thirds of all production.⁷ That’s not just bad for biodiversity, it’s also risky for nutrition and food security.

Research shows a strong link between crop diversity and dietary diversity, which can help reduce hidden hunger (micronutrient deficiencies) even when calorie intake is sufficient.⁸

How food systems impact biodiversity: a crucial link

In today’s globalized world, food systems have become both a driver of environmental change and a key factor in biodiversity loss. From farming practices to food production and consumption, the ripple effects on ecosystems are profound. The global food system, particularly animal agriculture, is a leading contributor to environmental degradation, deforestation, and biodiversity loss. Read more here.

Changing diets to protect biodiversity

The good news is that what we eat can be part of the solution. A shift towards a plant-based diet is one of the most powerful ways to reduce pressure on ecosystems and support biodiversity.

At the 2024 UN Biodiversity Conference (COP16), the global community reinforced the urgent need to align food systems with nature protection. ProVeg advocated for exactly this, calling for dietary shifts, policy reform, and a greater emphasis on plant-based solutions.⁹ These priorities align with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework adopted at COP15, which remains a guiding structure for biodiversity action.

A growing body of research and advocacy points to five key actions to bring food systems into harmony with biodiversity goals:

• Support biodiversity-friendly farming – Promote agro-ecological practices that preserve habitats and reduce inputs.
• Diversify crops – Invest in research and innovation to bring a wider range of resilient, nutritious plants to market.
• Expand access to plant-based food – Make it easier to choose plant-based options in supermarkets, restaurants, and public catering.
• Align dietary guidelines – Ensure national nutrition policies promote plant-rich diets that match biodiversity and climate targets.¹⁰
• Reform harmful subsidies – Globally, 87% of agricultural subsidies distort prices and damage the environment. That money could instead support sustainable food production.¹¹

Many of these points align directly with the Kunming-Montreal framework, which calls on countries to transform food systems through Targets 10 (sustainable agriculture), 16 (sustainable consumption), and 18 (removing harmful subsidies).

What a well-planned plant-based diet looks like

The ‘food plate’ is endorsed by various nutrition societies and national governments and provides a simple guide to making healthy food choices. The composition of the food plate corresponds to current scientific knowledge regarding the health effects of what we eat and drink. In the following article, we present the plant-based food plate from ProVeg.

Simon Middleton

Senior Writer

1. Ceballos, G., Ehrlich, P.R., & Dirzo, R. (2017): Biological annihilation via the ongoing sixth mass extinction signaled by vertebrate population losses and declines. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 201704949. doi:10.1073/pnas.1704949114.
2. Poore, J., & Nemecek T. (2018): Reducing food’s environmental impacts through producers and consumers. Science 360(6392), 987–992. doi:10.1126/science.aaq0216
3. FAO (2021): COP26: Agricultural expansion drives almost 90 percent of global deforestation. Available at: https://www.fao.org/newsroom/detail/cop26-agricultural-expansion-drives-almost-90-percent-of-global-deforestation/en#:~:text=Rome%20%E2%80%93%20Agricultural%20expansion%20drives%20almost,Global%20Remote%20Sensing%20Survey%20today. [Accessed: 02.05.2022].
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8. Dannenberg et al. (2024): Eight arguments why biodiversity is important to safeguard food security. Available at: https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ppp3.10492.
9. ProVeg: The 2024 UN Biodiversity Conference – a pivotal moment for biodiversity and the future of food. Available at: https://proveg.org/news/the-2024-un-biodiversity-conference-a-pivotal-moment-for-biodiversity-and-the-future-of-food/.
10. Klapp et al. (2022): A global analysis of national dietary guidelines on plant-based diets. Available at: https://cdn.nutrition.org/article/S2475-2991(23)00560-7/fulltext.
11. FAO, UNDP and UNEP (2021): A multi-billion-dollar opportunity. Available at: https://doi.org/10.4060/cb6562en.