Organisation seeking to create synergies for nature and responsible development
GlobalGAP is using this year’s International Day for Biological Diversity on 22 May to put out a call to action for all actors – governments, the private sector, and civil society – to use synergies at every level and accelerate implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
GlobalGAP continues to expand the integration of biodiversity into its work and support stakeholders in reaching and sharing their achievements. “With the Environmental Sustainability Working Group, we are developing – in collaboration with a broad alliance of partners in a multi-stakeholder initiative – a sustainability solution that is currently being piloted in real-world settings,” said the organisation’s senior technical expert, Dr René Capote.
Producer involvement: implementing solutions on the ground
On the ground, Antonio Caballero Morote from Hortofrutícola Topi, a local fruit producer in southeastern Spain, is actively involved in piloting the new sustainability approach on its farm in Murcia.
The Spanish stonefruit and grape producer’s participation highlights the vital role that producers play in implementing biodiversity measures. The experience of Hortofrutícola Topi also provides valuable insights into the potential benefits and challenges of integrating these practices into daily production operations, as they are currently being tested.
Commercial director Antonio Caballero Morote said: “We are excited to be part of this interesting stakeholder collaboration. We also expect to create innovative and feasible biodiversity measures to further increase sustainability on our farms and also to make these measures visible to our clients”.
Retailer engagement: driving change across the value chain
Another key partner in this pilot project is Edeka Germany, which provides a perspective from the retail sector and insights on how the sector can influence responsible supply chains. By supporting pilot projects in Spain and Italy, Edeka demonstrates how retailers can play a pivotal role in promoting biodiversity-friendly practices and raising consumer awareness on environmental sustainability and biodiversity.
“Making agriculture more sustainable is one of the major challenges of our time – to ensure a long-term supply of high-quality and safe food while reducing environmental impact. GlobalGAP has been a reliable partner for us for many years when it comes to food safety, quality, consumer protection, and sustainability throughout the supply chain,” said Stephanie Finkbeiner, head of sustainability/CSR and Edeka Zentrale.
“The new Environmental Sustainability Solution combines key environmental issues such as soil health, water management, biodiversity, and climate change into a practical, verifiable system. As a long-standing supporting member, we have been actively involved in the development of the contents – which is why we welcome this important step towards sustainable agriculture all the more.”
Driving transformative change through partnerships
According to GlobalGAP, this pilot project demonstrates how the private sector, together with producers and retailers, can lead transformative change by communicating biodiversity science, advocating for the accelerated implementation of the SDGs and the KMGBF, and initiating the required transformations.
“GlobalGAP encourages all stakeholders to join forces, harness synergies, and continue taking bold action for biodiversity and responsible development. Only through collaboration, collective ambition, and partnerships is a prosperous present and future in harmony with nature possible,” said Capote.
