Description

Biodiversity, diets and nutrition are closely linked. The variety of crops and plants, animals, and other organisms, both wild and cultivated, used for food and agriculture play a crucial role in providing the diverse nutrients needed for optimal healthy diets. However, the rapid loss of biodiversity poses a major threat to food security and healthy diets by reducing the variety of plant and animal foods available for consumption. Given the current context, it is more essential than ever to better understand the relationship between biodiversity and healthy diets to ensure sustainable, inclusive and resilient agrifood systems that benefit both human and planetary health.

The CBD's Initiative on Biodiversity for Food and Nutrition was established in 2006, in the context of the CBD’s existing Programme of Work on Agricultural Biodiversity, to address this challenge and to promote the sustainable use of biodiversity in relevant strategies, programmes and projects contributing to food security and nutrition. This side event will present some of the past outputs and achievements of the Initiative while also highlighting challenges it has faced as well as the opportunities ahead.

Since 2006, the trends and challenges   faced by the global community have changed significantly. This necessitates the CBD Initiative on Biodiversity for Food and Nutrition to take stock and explore how best it can contribute to the transformation of agri-food systems that deliver better diets and nutrition. This side event presents an opportunity for member states and partner organizations to reflect on past actions of the Initiative and the best way forward over the coming years. A strengthened and supported Initiative can contribute to achieving more than half of the CBD’s Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework targets, as well as other global food, climate and environmental goals.

Objectives

• Highlight the importance of the CBD Initiative on Biodiversity for Food and Nutrition
• Present past achievements and challenges from the implementation of the CBD Initiative on Biodiversity for Food and Nutrition since 2006
• Discuss future opportunities and benefits of strengthening the CBD Initiative on Biodiversity for Food and Nutrition for implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework