Sustainable agriculture

Unsustainable agricultural practices are among the main causes of biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution globally. It is thus essential to integrate environmental conservation practices in the agriculture sector when looking at pathways for a sustainable future. In this context, Nature-based Solutions (NbS) could be a critical tool for improving the status of productive landscapes.

Recientes informes internacionales importantes han puesto de relieve el impacto alarmante de los sistemas de producción de alimentos sobre el cambio climático, las tierras y la biodiversidad.

Les principaux rapports internationaux récents ont mis en évidence l’impact alarmant des systèmes de production alimentaire sur les changements climatiques, les terres et la biodiversité.

Recent major international reports have highlighted the alarming impact of food production systems on climate change, land and biodiversity. This report shows that common ground between the agriculture and conservation sectors for mutually beneficial action exists, and that there is great potential for widespread adoption of sustainable agricultural practices that can meet our needs for food, feed, fibre, and energy.

The high amount of land used for cultivation and livestock farming has dramatically shaped landscapes in Europe and throughout the rest of the world. Agriculture is a fundamental human activity that intrinsically depends on nature and at the same time poses a threat to it. Thus, sustainability has emerged as a necessity in future agricultural policy and practice.

The resource use implications and environmental impacts of our food systems are significant.

In this report, we provide insights on the use of responsible and deforestation-free soy in the EU-28 member states, Norway and Switzerland (EU+). As the second largest importer of soy, Europe has a responsibility to solve the sustainability issues connected to its soy consumption.

This report provides an overview of palm oil sustainability standards' measures to stop biodiversity loss and restore habitat for biodiversity conservation. It highlights critical areas that need to be improved and recommends specific actions for palm oil buyers and investors. 

Agrobiodiversity, which includes the diversity of plants, animals, fish, trees and microbes that are used directly or indirectly for food and agriculture, is the foundation of sustainable agricultural development. But demand has grown for new knowledge and skills to address the multifunctionality of sustainable agriculture and the interconnectedness of biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and human health.