Biodiversity and food

Just twelve crops and fourteen animal species now provide most of the world’s food.

This limited diversity offers fewer opportunities for growth and innovation to boost agriculture at a time of soaring food prices.

Fewer crop types leaves our food supply more vulnerable to climate change, water scarcity and plant pests & diseases.

The UN Food & Agriculture Organisation believes that erosion of biodiversity in food and agriculture severely compromises global food security. We need to strengthen our efforts to protect and wisely manage biodiversity for food security. Biodiversity is central to achieving a secure and sustainable food supply system.