We are bringing more biodiversity to the food sector. Through enhanced biodiversity management for companies in the food industry, we strengthen the protection and restoration of ecosystems. This is because greater biodiversity leads to better and safer food.
Good and safe food is highly dependent on soil organisms, pollinators and other beneficial organisms, and thus on a high level of biodiversity. Extensive and effective measures to protect biodiversity and ecosystems cannot be borne by agriculture alone. Therefore, our EU LIFE project “Biodiversity Governance and Performance in the Food Sector” – FIT FOR BIODIVERSITY for short – is aimed at sustainability managers in companies, auditors and business auditors.
Through training and a basic toolkit, we support specialists and executives in improving biodiversity performance within the food sector. Furthermore, we are developing indicators that enable companies to record and assess biodiversity. To foster greater biodiversity in supply chains, we develop incentive systems for companies and production facilities, and we strengthen national biodiversity protection initiatives across Europe.
Our training courses for managers and sustainability managers focus on biological diversity and its importance for the food sector. With background knowledge, detailed questions and recommended actions, they help companies make informed, more sustainable decisions to protect biodiversity. The free training program will start in 2026. If you are interested or have any questions, please contact Kimberly Kürschner (kuerschner@globalnature.org).
Project area
Goals
Business leaders recognize the importance of biodiversity for the food sector and are aware of measures to improve biodiversity performance and protect biodiversity.
Significant improvement of biodiversity performance through the implementation of a basic set of biodiversity criteria in various supply chains
Development and improvement of financing opportunities for the conservation and restoration of ecosystems through incentive systems and Biodiversity Credits
Promotion and support of the establishment of Food for Biodiversity initiatives in other EU countries to improve biodiversity performance in the food sector
Impacts
270
Leaders and CSR managers, 200 auditors and accountants in Germany and other EU countries, as well as 6,000 students and professionals were trained.
6
Supply chains have raw material-specific baseline sets for their producers’ biodiversity criteria.
10
Companies have launched incentive programs to support farmers in implementing biodiversity measures.
5
Additional Food for Biodiversity initiatives have been launched in Europe to build a European network for exchange and support.
Impressions
Contribution to the sustainability goals
Publications
The Basic Set is a set of criteria for agricultural production to protect biodiversity. It serves as a template for company policies and standards.
A fact sheet on the Basic Set, as well as the Basic Set in other languages, is available here (Fit for Biodiversity website).
Latest news
New pilot project: Monitoring biodiversity in agriculture in Spain. To the article
“Fit for Biodiversity” trainings for auditors and environmental experts. More information (Website of the Lake Constance Foundation)
Contact persons
Jenja Kronenbitter
Project manager for companies and biodiversity
Tel: +49 157 33085788
kronenbitter@globalnature.org
Stefan Hörmann
Managing Director
Tel: +49 228 184 86 94 11
Mobile: +49 160 532 10 52
hoermann@globalnature.org
Kimberly Kürschner
Trainee Agriculture Business and Biodiversity
Tel: +49 228 1848694 13
kuerschner@globalnature.org
Sponsor
Project partners
