The “Biodiversity Promotes Healthy Agricultural Systems and Benefits Human Health” policy brief emphasizes the essential role of biodiversity in maintaining agricultural systems and promoting human well-being. Functional diversity, which includes species’ roles like pest control, pollination, and nutrient cycling, underpins critical ecosystem services that sustain food production and human health. Declines in biodiversity, driven by agricultural intensification, threaten food security and public health. Research shows that protecting semi-natural habitats, promoting organic farming, and reducing pesticide use can restore biodiversity, enhance soil and pollinator health, and ensure resilient agricultural landscapes. Policy recommendations include incentivizing farmers to conserve biodiversity, improving biosecurity in beekeeping, and adopting sustainable farming practices to enhance ecosystem services and reduce reliance on chemical inputs. These measures support the goals of the EU’s Green Deal and Biodiversity Strategy for 2030.
A Biodiversa+ policy brief based on the results of FUNPROD, NutriB2, VOODOO and SuppressSoil