The contribution of biodiversity for food and agriculture to the resilience of production systems – Thematic Study for The State of the World’s Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture

This thematic study reviews the available information on the contribution of biodiversity for food and agriculture (BFA) to the resilience of crop, livestock, forest, fishery and aquaculture production systems to environmental change and uncertainty. The authors offer various recommendations for harnessing BFA to increase the resilience of production systems including, (1) support adaptation and continued evolution through in situ conservation of a diversity of tree, aquatic and crop wild relatives as well as traditional breeds and varieties of livestock and crops; (2) diversify farms and in fields, both by conserving local biological resources and by improving access to new resources and associated knowledge, targeting components of BFA (crops, trees, livestock and aquatic species) known to increase the range of possible responses to variable and changing climatic conditions; and (3) increase institutional and policy support for the wider adoption of diversity-rich practices that contribute to resilience.