Sourcing while respecting biodiversity: the case of food

  • 03rd March 2018
  • by secretary
Paepard
1st March 2018. Brussels. The Global Nature Fund, the Belgian Federal Public Service for Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment, Université catholique de Louvain and IPES-food organised an exchange of ideas around food sourcing and biodiversity.

You can find the full program as well as useful background documents here
(link is external)

Mainstreaming of effective biodiversity protection in the agri-food sector is a necessity. Biodiversity is an essential component of a transition towards sustainable food systems, and should be discussed with food companies and stakeholders and supported by Governments and Institutions. 

This debate on sourcing is intended to help (1) clarify the key questions that companies should be asking in regards to minimizing impacts on biodiversity from their sourcing of agro-commodities and (2) to identify effective approaches for applying best practices in sourcing decisions and operations. This effort is aimed at providing guidance for companies seeking to (a) evaluate new sites of production (strategic investment decisions), (b) expand production within a current source landscape, and/or (c) review and revise production and sourcing practices to diminish impacts on local ecosystems and biodiversity.

Extracts of the programme:

  • David Olson from Conservation Earth – Module 1: “The current state of the biodiversity in the region of production” 
  • Louise Buck from Ecoagriculture Partners – Module 2: “Improving biodiversity outcomes in agricultural production systems” 
  • Tom Dedeurwaerdere from BIOGOV research unit (Université Catholique de Louvain) – Module 3: “The political governance in terms of biodiversity in the production country”
  • Marion Hammerl from Global Nature Fund/LCF – LIFE Presentation: Recommendation on effective biodiversity criteria and policies for standards organisations and sourcing requirements of companies 
  • Francesco Tramontin from Mondelez – Mondelez Harmony program: Sourcing sustainable wheat to promote biodiversity and bake great biscuits 
  • Tom Dedeurwaerdere from the BRAIN project ‘Food4Sustainability’ – Results of a survey on Belgian companies and their link with biodiversity


Source: PAEPARD FEED

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