Biodiversity and Food Security: Two pieces of the same puzzle

India is highly dependent on the agriculture sector for its food security, and biodiversity loss leaves crops vulnerable to pests and diseases, thereby lowering yields. It also leads to the increased occurrence of invasive species and reduces the pollinator population. Thus, the interlinkage between food security and biodiversity loss needs to be understood in its entirety.

Coherent and holistic policy frameworks need to be developed to address and align targets across the nexus of biodiversity, climate change, and development. Systems thinking in developing these policy frameworks will ensure that crucial interdependencies are not ignored and trade-offs are minimised. Such frameworks could address the chronic underfunding in biodiversity conservation and discourage financial incentives that negatively impact biodiversity and climate.