Introducing the Base Set: A Practical Tool for Biodiversity in Agri-food Systems

In this compact 45-minute session, we present the Base Set of Biodiversity Criteria — a practical and field-tested framework that helps food and beverage companies improve their biodiversity performance in agricultural production, turning supply chain management into a concrete and measurable investment in nature. The Base Set contains over 80 criteria designed to protect and promote biodiversity at the most risk-intensive stage of the food value chain: agricultural production. By providing a common, science-based reference point, it helps companies move beyond commitments on paper towards actions that deliver real, traceable outcomes for nature.

Participants will receive a clear overview of its structure, the key criteria and typical areas of application. The Base Set supports organisations in integrating biodiversity requirements into standards, supplier guidelines and policies for producer groups, embedding the logic of investing in nature directly into the decisions that shape how land is managed and how food is produced. The session will also show how it strengthens industry-wide alignment on biodiversity action, fostering the kind of coordinated, private-sector investment in nature that is essential for achieving meaningful change at scale.

Objectives

The Base Set as a tool for credible biodiversity management and a practical instrument for investing in nature along agricultural supply chains

How companies can use it to assess and improve their biodiversity impacts

Highlights of the core criteria, such as the Biodiversity Action Plan
Practical examples from current implementation
Time for questions and exchange

Target audience:

Sustainability managers, food companies, standard-setting organisations, NGOs, researchers, farmers and policymakers working on biodiversity, agricultural supply chains and CSR.

About Food for Biodiversity:

Food for Biodiversity e.V. is an association founded in 2021 bringing together companies from the food sector, environmental organisations, standards bodies and scientific institutions. Its goal is to embed the protection and promotion of biodiversity throughout the entire food industry value chain. The organisation develops practical solutions, fosters dialogue between business, science and environmental organisations, and advocates for a sustainable transformation of the sector.

This event is organised within the framework of the EU LIFE project "Fit for Biodiversity" (Grant Agreement No. 101148484).