Defining Nature-Positive Food Systems : Background report

Samenvatting

In recent years the term ‘nature-positive food systems’ has gained attention. Attention has evolved from global advocacy about the reciprocal relationship of food systems with nature towards really rethinking these systems based on these relations. The term, however, leaves room for interpretation, and a blurred understanding of the concept may undermine meaningful steps towards required change. Therefore we here explored how "nature-positive food systems" could be meaningfully defined, in a way that is beneficial for nature-positive transitions. To do so, we formulated a working definition, based on literature and internal discussions, acknowledging that defining nature-positive food systems is contextual and a process in which increasing shared understanding is the aim, not obtaining a final definition. As working definition, we refer to nature-positive food systems as food systems that have nature at the heart of decision-making and that will lead to increased biodiversity and improved ecosystem functioning through collective understanding and action. It is important to acknowledge that also nature-positive food systems need to provide sufficient and healthy food for people. The definition reflects five building blocks: “nature”, “positive”, “food systems”, “nature at the heart” and “collective understanding and action”. These reflect different components of the term “nature-positive food systems” and elements that were frequently mentioned in existing definitions of “nature-positive”. The five building blocks are explained in this report, referring to discussions in the literature and internally that have led to the working definition.