Biodiversity Mainstreaming for Healthy & Sustainable Food Systems: A Toolkit to Support Incorporating Biodiversity into Policies and Programmes

The Biodiversity for Food and Nutrition Initiative (BFN Project) uses indigenous food biodiversity as a lens to address malnutrition, farmer livelihood resilience, and sustainability. Since 2012, the initiative has pioneered a cross-sectoral, partner-based approach to document and share information on 195 nutrient-rich, locally-adapted species ranging from African leafy vegetables to Amazonian fruits. Spearheaded by governments and research organizations in Brazil, Kenya, Sri Lanka, and Turkey, BFN developed a three-pronged methodology to ensure the conservation, revival, and promotion of these underutilised species. This toolkit is an open-access guide to mainstreaming biodiversity that draws on case studies across the four partner countries, outlining steps to 1) Provide Evidence; 2) Influence Policy, and 3) Raise Awareness. With an emphasis on both key focus areas and site-specific examples, the toolkit offers readers inspiration to adapt the work of BFN to other regions. Links to key resources collect additional information and contextualise the project methods, for example, in relation to the FAO Voluntary Guidelines for Mainstreaming Biodiversity into Policies, Programmes and National and Regional Plans on Nutrition. Focus points within the toolkit include how to make use of: National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans, school feeding and procurement, green employment, cultural festivals, and business cases for mainstreaming biodiversity.