Biodiversity, human well-being, food and nutrition are closely linked. Food biodiversity — the diversity of plants, animals, and other organisms (e.g. fungi) used for food, both cultivated and from the wild —  determines what ends up on our plates, how resilient food systems are to shocks, and whether diets are healthy, affordable, and culturally appropriate. Yet biodiversity loss is steadily narrowing food choices worldwide, driving more uniform diets and weakening nutrition outcomes, livelihoods, cultural heritage and ecosystem resilience. 

The Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) provides an ambitious global agenda to halt and reverse biodiversity loss through sustainable use, mainstreaming across sectors, sustainable consumption, and incentive reform. However, translating these commitments into operational, measurable, and cross-sectoral actions remains a key implementation challenge, particularly beyond environmental sectors. 

In this context, the CBD cross-cutting initiative on biodiversity for food and nutrition provides a strategic pathway for advancing progress towards KMGBF Targets 4, 9, 10, 14, 16, and 18. By strengthening the evidence base on biodiversity–diet linkages, policy integration, and the conservation, sustainable use and promotion of biodiversity across food systems, the Initiative helps translate global commitments into national action. In doing so, it enhances policy coherence across biodiversity, agriculture, fisheries, health and nutrition agendas, while delivering co-benefits for healthy diets, improved nutrition, and more resilient and sustainable agrifood systems. 

This side event will provide a timely opportunity to take stock of progress made since the Initiative’s establishment in 2006, by sharing country and stakeholder experiences, and identifying priorities for action at COP17 and beyond.  

 Proposed Speakers (tbd): 

Objectives 

1. Demonstrate how the CBD initiative on biodiversity for food and nutrition initiative contributes to the implementation of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and progress towards Targets 4, 9, 10, 14, 16, and 18, through research, policy and programmes linking biodiversity, food systems, nutrition and health. 
2. Showcase country experiences and evidence on the implementation of practices linking biodiversity, food systems, and healthy diets, with relevance to KMGBF Targets 9, 10 and 18.  
3. Showcase country experiences and evidence on integrating biodiversity into food, nutrition, and food systems policies and incentives, with relevance to KMGBF Targets 14, 16, and 18. 
4. Foster dialogue among Parties, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, youth, international organizations, and other stakeholders to advance priorities for strengthening the links between biodiversity, food, and nutrition through greater policy coherence, inclusive participation, and coordinated action across biodiversity, agriculture, nutrition, health, and climate agendas. 
    

Expected Outcomes 

1. A shared assessment of progress, challenges, and knowledge gaps related to the implementation of the CBD cross-cutting initiative on biodiversity for food and nutrition over the past two decades. 
2. Strengthened collaboration and partnerships among biodiversity, agriculture, food systems, nutrition, health, and climate stakeholders to support coherent and mutually reinforcing policies and programmes.