1130. Why Biodiversity Matters in Agriculture and Food Systems

The 16th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is being held in Cali, Colombia, from October 21, 2024 to today, November 1, 2024. Biodiversity, especially the diversity of crop genetic resources, is crucial for maintaining food security in an era of accelerating climate change and environmental crises.

A paper published in the journal Science in October discusses the importance of preserving and harnessing genetic diversity in resilient food systems.

Imagine a world where the diversity of crops and genetic resources that support our food disappears. This is not a dystopian future. Biodiversity, the lifeblood of our ecosystems and food systems, is at stake. Driven by climate change, habitat destruction, and relentless expansion of farmland, we are facing the loss of genetic diversity at an unprecedented rate. This loss is not only a scientific or environmental concern, but also a threat to global food security and, by extension, human survival.

The intertwined crises of biodiversity loss, environmental degradation, and malnutrition require urgent attention. Biodiversity is the backbone of a resilient food system that can adapt to changing conditions. To secure our future, we need to shift to agriculture that preserves biodiversity. Reversing the loss of biodiversity in agriculture requires a multi-pronged approach that combines conservation, sustainable agricultural practices, and scientific innovation, with the conservation of the genetic resources that underpin our food systems at the heart of it.

This year's JIRCAS International Symposium will be held on Friday, November 22, under the theme of "Opportunities and Challenges for Resilient Genetic Resources in the Age of Global Boiling." A special page will be released soon.

Reference
Ismahane Elouafi, Why biodiversity matters in agriculture and food systems
Science, 10 Oct 2024, Vol 386, Issue 6718
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.ads8197

Contributor: IIYAMA Miyuki, Information Program