FAO: Incorporating Biodiversity as a Priority in Agri Can Yield Multiple Benefits

Transformative changes in growing healthy and nutritious food, along with sustainable agricultural systems must be done simultaneously while protecting our planet's biodiversity. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Director-General Jose Graziano da Silva mentioned this at the opening of an international dialogue on mainstreaming biodiversity into agricultural policies and practices.

"The way we are producing our food is a big part of the problem…Today, the world still produces food mainly based on the principles of the Green Revolution that started more than 50 years ago and implies the use of high chemical inputs at a high cost for the environment," according to Graziano da Silva. Thus, he argued that focusing on protecting biodiversity across all sectors is "fundamental."

The genetic diversity of plants can be harnessed to come up with varieties that can tolerate hotter and drier conditions. On the other hand, the loss of agricultural biodiversity poses a direct risk to food security. FAO emphasized the need for alignment of policies governing agricultural sectors, the use of natural resources, protection and conservation of endangered species, habitats, and biodiversity to add more protection to the environment and lessen the ecological footprint of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries.

Read more from the media release of FAO.