In pursuit of economic growth and food security, nature is being destroyed at a catastrophic rate. The largest driver of nature loss is land use change, with the conversion of natural landscapes to agricultural land the main cause (1). Food systems practices have been responsible for 70 per cent of terrestrial biodiversity loss and standard agricultural practice continues to accelerate the destruction of nature (2). There are multiple pathways through which nature underpins our food systems and our resilience to the climate crisis. Without nature conservation and restoration our food systems need for pollinators, natural pest management, healthy soils and ability to buffer the impacts of extreme weathers such as floods and droughts are at risk (3). Yet, the need to protect and restore nature is not being sufficiently championed in food policy or by food systems stakeholders, including nutritionists.
To support action, we took a systems approach to qualitatively examine the perspectives of 80 stakeholders across UK food systems on the role of nature within agri-food chains and to identify recommendations for enhancing nature restoration. Results showed that most stakeholders were worried. They described the urgent need to reorientate food production practices to prioritise nature and foster resilience to extreme weather patterns. Stakeholders overwhelmingly expressed how nature is continually sidelined by systematic drivers that devalue nature, particularly profit making along value chains and the fallacy of cheap food for national food security. Many farmers and agribusinesses want to farm with nature but incoherent and short-term policy making is having a detrimental effect on the economic viability of their businesses. This inconsistent policy approach is prohibiting long term investment in nature-based practices which can mitigate climate impacts, support climate change adaptation and enhance the economic resilience of farms. Stakeholders highlighted three key recommendations for food policy and food systems practice: i) a mindset shift by all food systems actors to prioritise nature conservation and restoration; ii) funders and financers to de-risk the transition for a nature-positive food system; iii) ensure long-term, cross-sector agreement for the future of farming with nature.
The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world (4) but the results of this study also hold relevance for Australia. With the conversion of native bushland to agriculture the primary driver of nature loss and deforestation in Australia (5), nutritionists play a vital role in bringing about a whole-of-food-systems shift towards investing in and prioritising nature as a fundamental priority and an asset. Without this change our future food systems resilience and food security is at risk.