Agriculture must evolve from a source of biodiversity loss to a driver of environmental restoration and conservation

As much as agriculture is blamed for being one of the primary drivers of biodiversity loss, causing deforestation, soil degradation, and climate change, agriculture, environmental and development experts are also unanimous that agriculture is also the arena where solutions must be sought.

This was the resounding message from a high-level panel discussion by global leaders in agricultural research and development and finance on innovative ways agriculture can drive biodiversity restoration while simultaneously tackling climate change, land degradation, and food insecurity. It was hosted by the Financial Times in collaboration with CGIAR and the Crop Trust during COP 16 the Alliance of Bioversity International and International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) Campus in Cali, Colombia.

‘We know that the food system is expected to drive 70% of the projected terrestrial biodiversity loss. That’s going to affect ecosystem services. Many industries depends on agriculture. There’s also 2.5 billion livelihoods that depend on it as well,’ stated Katie Leach, Head of Nature at Lloyds Banking Group adding, ‘But agriculture can lead the way in driving forward and supporting biodiversity restoration and conservation.’

Ginya Truitt Nakata, Director of Global Agriculture and Food Systems Policy at The Nature Conservancy, echoed this sentiment arguing that agriculture holds a unique capacity to not only prevent further harm but to actively regenerate natural resources. ‘Agriculture can and must be part of the solution.’

The role of gene banks and innovation in crop diversity
At the heart of agricultural innovation in the fight for biodiversity are gene banks—repositories that hold millions of plant samples. These facilities help preserve crop diversity, a key element in building resilience. Juan Lucas Restrepo, Director General of the Alliance of Bioversity International and International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), emphasized, ‘Our work is not just about storing genetic diversity for future generations, but about creating systems that help biodiversity evolve alongside farmers, building resilience to climate impacts.’

With climate change driving extreme weather, CGIAR’s digitization and research into climate-smart crops help farmers adopt practices that support both productivity and biodiversity. ‘Farmers need to access knowledge, seeds, and tools that are resilient and adaptive,’ Restrepo added, underscoring the importance of CGIAR’s work to bring these tools into farmers’ hands.

Cargele Masso, Director of the Environmental Health and Biodiversity Impact Area Platform, CGIAR described the importance of making these resources available to local communities and policymakers. ‘This isn’t just a storage facility; it’s a living resource for food security,’ he stated. ‘To highlight CGIAR’s work in protecting, maintaining, and restoring biodiversity, we’re focused on making our research on biodiversity accessible to end users, particularly policymakers. The goal is to create a collaborative network that includes not only CGIAR scientists and experts but also the broader international community—from farmers to policymakers. Our approach involves sharing experiences and understanding each stakeholder’s needs so we can prioritize our research accordingly. Being here at the Conference on Biological Diversity, we’re discussing ways to enhance the preservation and restoration of genetic resources. A significant focus is on equitable benefit sharing, as this motivates all stakeholders. As we build knowledge, we ensure it’s packaged for easy access and practical use for everyone attending the conference, added Masso.

Katie Leach, Head of Nature, Lloyds Banking Group, emphasized the importance of finance in driving change within agriculture, an industry that Lloyds extensively supports. ‘By aligning finance with environmental goals, we can support farmers to innovate sustainably.’ Lloyds is already financing biodiversity-positive projects, such as the Clean Growth Financing Initiative, which offers preferential funding to farmers adopting sustainable practices. They are also piloting collaborative financial models that bring together producers and retailers to share the cost of transitioning to sustainable farming.

Masso stressed that financing must reach the ground level, where farmers are the primary stakeholders. He pointed out that finance mechanisms, like carbon credit payments and ecosystem service funding, should be refined to make sustainable practices feasible for farmers. He cited examples from Africa, where heavy reliance on specific crops increases vulnerability and proposed that diversifying support for varied crops could promote ecosystem health. ‘Three crops in Africa are responsible for 60% of the total consumption and that is a recipe for death.’

Stefan Schmitz, Executive Director, Crop Trust noted that the Trust was founded 20 years ago to provide the necessary technical and financial support to struggling gene banks globally, ensuring that this critical agrobiodiversity—a key component of overall biodiversity—is preserved and accessible. ‘These resources represent nature-based solutions we must secure, but funding for them remains scarce. Some investments are relatively straightforward, with a quick return on investment. There is no immediate return on investment in gene banks—neither for public nor private investors.’

A common theme was the need to dismantle the misconception of an inherent conflict between agriculture and biodiversity. The panellists agreed with the keynote speaker, Martha Viviana Carvajalino Villegas, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Colombia that agriculture’s impact on biodiversity has been misunderstood, arguing that the apparent conflict between food production and environmental preservation is a false narrative.

Panellists advocated for a shift from focusing solely on crop yield to prioritizing overall productivity and ecological health. Nakata expressed concern about a complacency within agricultural innovation, especially since the advancements of the Green Revolution. ‘Norman Borlaug’s work was ground

breaking, but it was never intended to be the last word. Industrial agricultural practices, originally meant as a short-term solution for food security, have led to unforeseen ecological challenges. Today, we need to reimagine agriculture through the lens of restoration and resilience.’

The panellists also emphasised the critical role supportive policies as powerful catalyst for transformation. Restrepo noted, ‘With half of the world’s land under agriculture and livestock, the solution must be rooted in these spaces. CGIAR’s research, which is shared with policymakers globally, is pivotal in shaping policies that promote soil health, water conservation, and biodiversity.’

The resounding message was clear: agriculture must evolve from a source of biodiversity loss to a driver of restoration. With tools like gene banks, regenerative practices, and innovative financial models, there is a viable pathway to a more resilient and biodiverse future. As Simon Mundy from the Financial Times and session moderator concluded, ‘The question is not whether agriculture can change, but how fast we can drive this transition.’