FAO Analysis Finds Agrifood Systems Are Central to Global Biodiversity Action

Rome, August 13, 2026 — The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has highlighted the increasingly important role of agriculture, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture in national efforts to protect biodiversity, drawing on an analysis of 78 countries’ National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs).

The findings indicate that agrifood systems are not a side issue in biodiversity policy. They are emerging as one of the principal areas through which countries can translate global conservation commitments into practical action on farms, forests, rivers, oceans and food supply chains.

FAO presented the key findings in a policy brief released in May 2026 as part of its work supporting implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). The organization says the analysis is intended to identify how countries are incorporating agrifood systems into national biodiversity targets and actions, while also identifying areas where stronger integration is needed.

Why Agrifood Systems Matter for Biodiversity

Agrifood systems encompass far more than crop farming. They include livestock production, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture, together with the value chains and people connected to these sectors.

These activities depend directly on healthy ecosystems. Productive soils, clean water, pollinators, genetic diversity, forests and marine ecosystems all contribute to food production and the livelihoods of millions of people.

At the same time, the way food is produced can also affect biodiversity. Land-use changes, pollution, overexploitation of natural resources and unsustainable production practices can place pressure on ecosystems. FAO therefore argues that transforming agrifood systems can simultaneously support food security and biodiversity conservation.

This creates an important policy opportunity. Instead of treating biodiversity protection as something confined to protected areas, governments can incorporate nature-positive measures directly into agricultural and food policies.

78 National Plans Examined

FAO’s global analysis examined NBSAPs from 78 countries to determine how agrifood systems are reflected in national biodiversity planning.

NBSAPs are the principal national instruments used by countries to implement their commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

The analysis examines whether agriculture, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture are reflected in national targets, actions and policy measures. It also looks at opportunities to use agrifood systems as entry points for achieving wider biodiversity objectives.

FAO’s broader conclusion is that agrifood systems are critical to delivering national biodiversity goals. The organization says all countries recognize the importance of agrifood systems as entry points for biodiversity action, although the depth and form of integration vary.

Connection to the Kunming-Montreal Framework

The issue is closely connected to the global biodiversity framework adopted at the 2022 UN biodiversity conference.

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework contains four long-term goals and 23 targets intended to guide global efforts to halt and reverse biodiversity loss.

FAO notes that agrifood sectors are directly related to more than half of those targets and have connections to all of them in some way. These links include ecosystem restoration, pollution reduction, invasive species, genetic resources, soil health and pollination.

One particularly important commitment is Target 10, which calls for sustainable management of areas used for agriculture, aquaculture, fisheries and forestry, including through greater use of biodiversity-friendly practices.

This makes farmers, fishers, forest managers, livestock producers and other food-system actors important participants in the implementation of the global biodiversity agenda.

From Global Commitments to Local Action

One of the central challenges identified by FAO is turning international commitments into practical measures at the national and local levels.

A biodiversity target can have little impact if it is not reflected in agricultural policies, investment decisions, extension services and production practices.

FAO therefore emphasizes the importance of policy coherence. Agriculture ministries, environment authorities, fisheries agencies, forestry institutions and other government bodies need to work together rather than developing separate policies that potentially conflict with one another.

The organization has also emphasized the importance of farmers, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, women and young people in biodiversity planning. These groups can provide knowledge and practical experience that are essential to designing workable policies.

Farming Can Become Part of the Solution

Agricultural landscapes can play a major role in biodiversity conservation when managed appropriately.

Practices such as agroforestry, crop diversification, improved soil management, habitat protection and reduced reliance on harmful inputs can help create conditions in which agricultural production and biodiversity conservation coexist.

The same principle applies to other sectors.

Sustainable fisheries management can protect marine ecosystems while supporting fishing communities. Responsible forestry can maintain forest biodiversity while generating livelihoods. Biodiversity-conscious livestock management can contribute to healthier landscapes under suitable conditions.

FAO’s approach is therefore based on integrating biodiversity into production systems rather than treating conservation and food production as completely separate objectives.

Financing Remains a Major Challenge

Policy commitments require financial resources to become reality.

FAO’s work points to financing as one of the areas where countries can strengthen their biodiversity strategies. Investment can support farmers adopting sustainable practices, improve research and monitoring, develop biodiversity-friendly technologies and strengthen institutional capacity.

The organization has also emphasized the need to consider biodiversity when countries seek funding from mechanisms such as the Global Environment Facility and the Green Climate Fund.

Financial incentives can be particularly important for small-scale producers. Farmers and other local resource users may be willing to adopt biodiversity-friendly approaches but face financial barriers when those practices require new equipment, additional labour or a transition period before economic benefits appear.

Countries Are Already Testing New Approaches

FAO’s biodiversity programmes include projects designed to help countries incorporate nature protection into agricultural policies.

Projects in countries including Madagascar, Uganda and Mexico are aimed at mainstreaming biodiversity into agrifood systems and supporting implementation of national biodiversity strategies. The work includes improving policy alignment, strengthening institutions, developing financial incentives and sharing knowledge.

In the Asia-Pacific region, FAO is supporting biodiversity mainstreaming in countries including Bangladesh, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The programme focuses on sustainable and resilient agrifood systems while strengthening institutional frameworks and aligning agricultural policies with national biodiversity strategies.

These initiatives demonstrate how international biodiversity commitments can be translated into country-level programmes.

Protecting Biodiversity Also Protects Food Security

The relationship between biodiversity and food security is becoming increasingly important as agriculture faces climate change, land degradation, water stress and other pressures.

Genetic diversity in crops and livestock can provide options for adapting to changing environmental conditions. Pollinators contribute to the production of many food crops, while healthy soils and ecosystems support agricultural productivity.

FAO has described biodiversity as a foundation of sustainable agricultural production and food security.

This means biodiversity conservation is not simply an environmental objective. It can also be viewed as an investment in the long-term resilience of food systems.

A New Policy Direction

The FAO analysis could encourage governments to reconsider how biodiversity strategies are designed.

Instead of placing biodiversity policies largely within environmental ministries, countries can give agriculture, forestry, fisheries and food systems a central role in national biodiversity planning.

This approach could also improve coordination between environmental and food-security objectives.

However, implementation will remain the critical test. Countries need measurable targets, reliable monitoring systems, adequate funding and participation from the people who manage agricultural and natural resources on the ground.

FAO’s work provides a framework for identifying those opportunities.

Looking Toward Global Biodiversity Review

The timing of the analysis is significant as countries assess collective progress toward the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

FAO has said the forthcoming global analysis is intended to inform discussions within the organization and the Convention on Biological Diversity, particularly around reviewing collective progress in implementing the framework.

The message emerging from the analysis is straightforward: biodiversity goals cannot be achieved without transforming the systems that produce food and manage natural resources.

Agrifood systems occupy an enormous part of the world’s land, freshwater and marine environments. Their policies and practices therefore have a direct influence on whether biodiversity declines or recovers.

For governments, the challenge now is to move beyond recognizing this connection and build it into concrete policies, investments and production decisions.

If countries succeed, farms, forests, fisheries and food value chains could become powerful platforms for restoring ecosystems while supporting livelihoods and food security.

The FAO analysis ultimately places agrifood systems at the centre of the biodiversity debate — not simply as sectors that need to reduce their environmental impact, but as potential partners in reversing biodiversity loss and building more resilient food systems for the future.