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Building networks for biodiversity and food system transformation

Nature Reviews Biodiversity volume 1, pages 416–418 (2025)Cite this article

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The global food system accelerates biodiversity loss, which in turn undermines the resilience and sustainability of food production. Strategic, coordinated action across the food system’s diverse actors and networks is essential to drive structural change and reverse biodiversity loss.

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Fig. 1: Five entry points for transformative interventions to achieve nature-positive food systems.

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Acknowledgements

This paper builds on insights gained during the Wageningen University & Research (WUR) Mansholt Lecture in 2022 (Mansholt Lecture 2022: Nature-Positive Futures). The five entry points emerged from a broad, WUR-wide discussion organized in the lead-up to this lecture. We are grateful for the many inspiring conversations with WUR scientists that further helped in shaping our perspectives. In particular, we thank E. Alblas, D. van Apeldoorn, J. Maas and the core team of the Wageningen Biodiversity Initiative for their valuable contributions. We acknowledge N. Sena from Clasp for creating the original illustrations for the WUR Mansholt Lecture that effectively visualized our ideas.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Forest Ecology and Forest Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    Liesje Mommer

  2. Wageningen Environmental Research, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    Judith Westerink & Jeanne Nel

  3. Land Use Planning Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    Judith Westerink

  4. Sustainability Research Unit, Nelson Mandela University, George, South Africa

    Jeanne Nel

Authors
  1. Liesje Mommer
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  2. Judith Westerink
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  3. Jeanne Nel
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Liesje Mommer.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Related links

Meten = Weten: https://metenweten.nl/

Peer to peer exchange: https://www.boerennatuur.nl/actueel/studiegroepen-zorgen-voor-kennisdeling-en-verbinding/

Wageningen Biodiversity Challenge: https://www.wur.nl/en/research-results/themes/biodiversity/wageningen-biodiversity-challenge.htm

Wageningen recommendations for improved monitoring, sustainable soil management and mitigating contamination: https://www.wur.nl/en/research-results/dossiers/file/soil-health-2.htm

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Mommer, L., Westerink, J. & Nel, J. Building networks for biodiversity and food system transformation. Nat. Rev. Biodivers. 1, 416–418 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44358-025-00063-8

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