What the Global Biodiversity Framework says about agriculture

The document analyzes the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), specifically Target 10 and Target 7, regarding their impact on agriculture. It highlights the positive inclusion of agroecology and goals to reduce pesticide risks by 2030. However, it criticizes the framework for endorsing 'sustainable intensification' and 'innovative approaches' that may promote biotechnology, GMOs, and synthetic biology. The author argues that the GBF lacks specific mandates for systemic agricultural change and warns against the 'financialisation of nature' through the use of 'ecosystem services' terminology.

• Target 10 of the GBF aims for the sustainable management of agriculture, aquaculture, fisheries, and forestry to conserve biodiversity and maintain ecosystem functions, specifically calling for an increase in 'biodiversity-friendly practices' such as agroecology.
• Target 7 of the GBF seeks to reduce pollution risks to levels not harmful to biodiversity by 2030, including a goal to reduce the overall risk from pesticides and highly hazardous chemicals by at least 50%.
• The document argues that the GBF's inclusion of 'sustainable intensification' and 'other innovative approaches' is harmful, as these terms are used by corporate lobbyists to promote biotechnology, fertilizers, pesticides, and synthetic biology, including gene drives that can threaten ecosystems.
• The GBF is criticized for lacking specific mandates to guarantee the implementation of its goals in agriculture and for failing to restrict monoculture plantations, GMOs, and pesticides, which the author attributes to the influence of agribusiness and biotech industries at COP15.
• The author warns that the framework's repeated use of the term 'ecosystem services' may lead to the financialisation of nature by limiting the value of nature to its economic contributions.

APA

Marien, N., Fandel, G., Prak, C., Race, M., & Rojas, I. (2024). What the Global Biodiversity Framework says about agriculture. Friends of the Earth International. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/GBF-Factsheet-Agriculture.pdf

Chicago

Marien, Nele, Ghislaine Fandel, Caroline Prak, Madeleine Race, and Isaac Rojas. What the Global Biodiversity Framework says about agriculture. Friends of the Earth International, 2024. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/GBF-Factsheet-Agriculture.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Marien |first1=Nele |last2=Fandel |first2=Ghislaine |last3=Prak |first3=Caroline |last4=Race |first4=Madeleine |last5=Rojas |first5=Isaac |title=What the Global Biodiversity Framework says about agriculture |publisher=Friends of the Earth International |date=March 2024 |url=https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/GBF-Factsheet-Agriculture.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{marien2024what, author = {Marien, Nele and Fandel, Ghislaine and Prak, Caroline and Race, Madeleine and Rojas, Isaac}, title = {{What the Global Biodiversity Framework says about agriculture}}, institution = {Friends of the Earth International}, year = {2024}, month = mar, url = {https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/GBF-Factsheet-Agriculture.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }