Ministers Urge Food System Overhaul for Biodiversity
Six countries at COP17 called for urgent transformation of food systems to close the gap in meeting global biodiversity goals.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Environmental
Ministers from Sierra Leone, Brazil, Norway, Italy, Cambodia and Viet Nam issued a joint statement at COP17 calling for urgent action to transform food systems. They argued that progress toward biodiversity implementation remains too slow.
Why it matters
More than half of the 23 global biodiversity targets depend on transforming how food is produced and consumed, so food policy is central to meeting nature goals. The statement responds to slow progress toward the 2030 deadline.
More than half of the 23 global biodiversity targets rely on food system change, according to the joint statement, and Sierra Leone's agricultural transformation spending rose from 2% to 8% since 2023. Whether these national efforts are enough to close the implementation gap by 2030 has not been assessed.
The players
Feed Salone
Sierra Leone's national programme that elevated food security to a national priority and supports its agricultural transformation efforts.
One Million Hectares programme
Viet Nam's initiative to bring one million hectares under sustainable management, with more than 350,000 hectares reached so far.
The details
Ministers from six countries highlighted programs including Viet Nam's One Million Hectares initiative, which has reached more than 350,000 hectares and reduced fertiliser use by around 30 percent and water use by 20 percent. Cambodia has distributed 5.5 million saplings under its Green Sprouts programme, and Sierra Leone's Feed Salone programme made food security a national priority.
Timeline
2023: Sierra Leone began increasing its agricultural transformation spending.
November 3, 2026: Ministers issued the joint statement at COP17.
2030: Target year for global nature targets.
Big Picture
The joint statement frames food system transformation as a precondition for the 2030 global nature targets, a deadline that many countries are struggling to meet. Its emphasis on food systems reflects a shift from treating biodiversity as a standalone conservation issue toward linking it to agriculture, fisheries and forestry policy.
Food system changes such as reduced fertiliser and water use, forest certification, and organic land management could shape how food is grown and sourced in coming years. Readers should expect any policy shifts to unfold through national programmes rather than immediate changes at the store.
The takeaway
Food choices and farming practices are directly tied to global nature outcomes, so policies affecting agriculture and forestry will influence biodiversity progress. Following national food and environment programmes in your own country can show how these commitments are being put into practice.
Further reading
For broader context on conservation and ecosystem policy, see the Environmental section.
