Towards a Better Understanding of the Interactions between the Environment, Agriculture and Trade, Focusing on the Role of Biodiversity

Abstract:

Striving to feed a population set to reach almost 10 billion people by 2050 in a sustainable way is high on the research and policy agendas. However, food production often negatively affects biodiversity with global demand driving cropland expansion and intensification. This means that sustainable development, food security and conservation are affected by interactions between the environment, agriculture, and the trade of agricultural products. There is a need to understand better the impacts on biodiversity from the global food system. In particular, since biodiversity underpins functions and services that are essential to agriculture, more consideration of the role of biodiversity in the food system is needed.

To facilitate the consideration of interactions, trade-offs and synergies between the environment, agriculture and trade, we review recent literature and use a systems thinking approach to present a conceptual framework outlining the complex and interacting suite of variables that combine to drive biodiversity impacts. We separate the environment-agriculture-trade system into its key components, revealing complex interactions and highlighting the role of biodiversity. This process identified components that are well-studied, and gaps that prevent a better understanding of the food system. We highlight ten research and policy priorities that will promote a greater understanding of the complexities of the environment-agriculture-trade system.