In 2025 the Global Risks Report of the World Economic Forum noted that progressing biodiversity loss will have “severe consequences for the environment, humankind and economic activity due to destruction of natural capital stemming from species extinction or reduction, spanning both terrestrial and marine ecosystems.”
Despite this, biodiversity continues to decline at an alarming rate. Agriculture is the primary driver behind this development, followed by climate change. Land and sea use change, overexploitation, monocultures, agrochemicals and other practices are putting sustained pressure on ecosystems—undermining the very nature-based functions a function food system depends on in the first place, from pollination to soil fertility to water regulation to disease control to renewable biomass.
Local Context is Key
To reverse the trend, a multitude of concepts and approaches for sustainable agriculture have been developed, promoted and, in some cases, discarded.
“Sustainable Intensification” emphasises the need for productivity increases to feed a growing world population, whilst minimising negative impacts on the environment. “Regenerative Agriculture” emerged in response to the perception that “sustainable” describes the current status, whereas most agricultural systems require restoration and improvement. “Agroecology” takes a holistic, systems approach that extends beyond production to the entire food system. Some practices—such as crop rotation and agroforestry—are applied almost universally. Others—like zero tillage or intercropping—are more target-specific.
In any case, there is no one-size-fits-all solution and selecting the right practices is inherently context-dependent.
A Step-by-Step Approach
Composing a locally adapted bundle of biodiversity-enhancing practices is a complex endeavour. As such, it is best handled in a step-by-step approach.
- Analysing the context and the need for action: while these issues would have at least partly been assessed at the project design stage, analysing the local economic, social, environmental and political context as well as identifying priority biodiversity issues is the foundation on which to build. The collecting of information can happen both through secondary sources and direct analysis. Subsequent prioritization should always include a participatory process.
- Identifying promising agricultural practices to address biodiversity challenges: during the participatory processes of identifying priority issues, a range of potential solutions will probably already have emerged. Local farmer’s knowledge and experience is invaluable and will – especially under changing circumstances – have to be complemented with outside knowledge.
- Narrowing down Options: the number of options that will be tested probably needs to be narrowed down, applying locally relevant criteria in a participatory workshop with local stakeholders.
- Testing and adapting agricultural practices for biodiversity enhancement: once promising practices have been identified a testing and adaptation process can be used to make sure it really works in the local context and delivers the expected benefits. This can be done both on-station and on-farm, using participatory processes that encourage experimentation.
- Scaling agricultural practices for biodiversity enhancement: the proven practices can then be scaled out (implemented across a larger area/multiple sites), scaled up (embedded in policy of communities, regions, countries) and scaled deep (anchored in local communities).
- Monitoring and evaluating the impact of agricultural practices on biodiversity: careful monitoring of impacts – both intended and unintended ones – is a key step in the learning cycle. Where feasible, the monitoring of biodiversity related indicators should be integrated into the project’s overall monitoring, evaluation and learning framework to ensure a coherent analysis and learning process across project objectives.
Learning More
While the above is a brief summary, a recent GIZ guide provides detailed guidance on this step-by-step process and includes fourteen fact sheets on common biodiversity-enhancing agricultural practices. The guide is available on the Adaptation Community Website.
Title Image © GIZ/Rossy Heriniaina
