BioVal: Science for more biodiversity

Biodiversi-whaaat? Biodiversity is the variety of plants, animals and habitats - and it is essential for stable ecosystems and an intact environment. Forests, moors and coral reefs store CO₂, protect against flooding and ensure clean air and water.

However, the loss of biodiversity is causing these natural climate buffers to falter - and further fueling climate change. This is why we are involved in the BioVal research project to make biodiversity measurable and to design our processes in such a way that they preserve and promote biodiversity.

Find out what this looks like in concrete terms here!

26.11.2024

in #Environment

Lesedauer: 5 minutes

Sechseckige Diagramme zeigen Biodiversitätskonzepte um ein zentrales, grünes Feld auf grünem Hintergrund.

BioVal research project

BioVal is a research project that investigates the fundamental link between food production, biodiversity and climate protection. Together with partners from science and industry, we are developing methods to make biodiversity measurable and create species-friendly production standards. For us as a food producer, this is a special responsibility, because biodiversity is not only important for nature, but also for the health of our planet and the stability of the climate.

Visionaries, pioneers, trailblazers

Looking back to 2021: We and two other food manufacturers (RitterSport and Frosta AG) take the first step and join the research as "real laboratories". We wanted to understand using our own example:

Where can we and our suppliers start in production to preserve biodiversity and minimize the impact of our activities?

In a second step, it was important for us to find out how we could get our customers and business partners excited about the topic of biodiversity. Because one thing is clear: we not only need good ideas and new standards, but also a completely different approach to this previously unknown topic. Visibility and communication on a broad front are the key here.

Mandelbäume blühen in Reihen auf einem staubigen Feld unter klarem, blauem Himmel.

Biodiversity - What's behind it all?

Biodiversity is the variety of plants, animals and habitats that all work together to keep ecosystems stable. This diversity ensures that important processes function: Forests and soils store CO₂, plants filter water and insects pollinate our food. If biodiversity is lost, these natural climate protectors are weakened - with consequences such as more frequent flooding, poorer air quality and infertile soils. Biodiversity is therefore not only essential for nature, but also for our climate and our quality of life.

The outdoor habitat outside our four walls. This is where everything that nature has to offer takes place and everyone has their place in the big picture. For example, a single tree can house and feed hundreds of life forms. From the birds in its branches to the insects under its bark and the microorganisms that live in symbiosis with its root system. Because biodiversity is not just about what we see. It also includes water cycles, food chains, fertilization mechanisms and thousands of other interrelationships. The functionality of biodiversity is fundamental to the balance of nature and the preservation of habitats.

Top-class basic research

So, together with the Center for Sustainable Leadership (ZNU) at Witten/Herdecke University, Bochum University of Applied Sciences and the Center for Technology and Society (ZTG) at the Technical University of Berlin, we sat down at a table and considered:

How can we categorize biodiversity from a natural, social and economic science perspective? And how do we obtain measurable standards that are suitable for everyday business practice?

We didn't just want to develop scientific methods that make the biodiversity effects of food production visible. Our aim was to provide companies with fundamental support in anchoring the protection and promotion of biodiversity in their management.

Eine Biene sammelt Nektar auf einer gelben Blüte in einem blühenden Garten.

Sustainable corporate governance begins with taking a closer look

The research project is divided into four main modules - starting with the collection of data. After all, anyone who needs standards must first examine the status quo. We asked ourselves the question: How well known is the connection between food production, consumption and biodiversity in Germany? To date, there was hardly any knowledge, which is why the survey process was intensive and very informative. -> to the results

Science and practice work together

The next step was to get specific: How can something as multifaceted as biodiversity be put on paper? Which points are included and what does food production have the greatest influence on? And how can all this be put into a scheme? For example, we know how much water our fields need, but this does not yet indicate any measures for improvement. Fortunately, we had support from the scientific community. Because these criteria were not without their challenges.

The example of the land use class "arable land" gives a good insight into which criteria play a role in the assessment of biodiversity:

Accompanying flora How many plant species per hectare are there that do not belong to the cultivated variety? How many of these are on the Red List of endangered species?
Structural diversity How many structuring elements such as hedges, shrubs or other habitats and retreats are there? How large is their area?
Soil cultivation What proportion of the land is cultivated? How long is land allowed to regenerate and how is crop rotation organized?
Introduction of foreign substances How many additives are added to the system, e.g. through fertilization and pest control? How does this affect the nitrogen balance and co.

Eine Gruppe von Menschen steht vor einer grünen Mooswand in einem modernen Gebäude.

The beginning is done ...

We have now been involved in BioVal for almost three years and have collected countless data, evaluated information and introduced approaches. We are also in regular contact with consumers and have found out as a result: Customers are willing to engage with the topic of biodiversity. However, some are still unsure whether they can really contribute to preserving biodiversity in countries of origin through their purchases - and if so, how. Is it enough to buy organic products? Are they automatically more biodiversity-friendly? And what does "species-friendly" mean? How credible are labels and product information?

... and it shall go on

That's why we put our heads together again in fall 2023. We wanted to know how consumers react to products with biodiversity protection labels. Are they prepared to accept additional costs for this type of environmental protection? Around 1,000 people between the ages of 18 and 75 were surveyed online. The evaluations are currently underway. We will provide an update as soon as they are completed.

Vier Menschen stehen lächelnd unter blühenden Mandelbäumen in einer sonnigen Plantage.

Where can you already see something from BioVal?

To be precise: In Chile, Bolivia and France!

In Chile, we have designed our walnut plantations in such a way that trees up to 200 years old have been able to keep their place. We cannot estimate how many creatures can continue to live as they have done for centuries. But one thing is clear: the walnuts taste even better this way.
Brazil nuts cannot be cultivated selectively. They need a specific ecosystem that cannot be established on plantations. Pollination is complex and not all bees are capable of it. This makes Brazil nuts per se an indicator of an intact ecosystem and therefore "living proof" of biodiversity at its origin.
Popcorn with a kick is great, popcorn with a worm is not (yet) trendy. The European corn borer has no idea. The larvae of this pest bore into the corn plant and eat our popcorn kernels before we can do so. Pesticides are normally used in such cases - they save the harvest but kill biodiversity. We have found someone who is happy about corn borers: the ichneumon wasp. It plants its eggs directly into the corn borer eggs and thus prevents them from reproducing. You have to come up with that first. Ichneumon wasp, we celebrate you!

Everything is connected and we are right in the middle of it

Biodiversity and climate protection are inextricably linked. Healthy ecosystems bind CO₂, regulate the water balance and protect us from extreme weather events. At Seeberger, we see ourselves as a bridge between nature and consumption and do everything we can to preserve biodiversity - for a stable future for our planet.

Want to know more? This way!

Further information on Seeberger's commitment in our sustainability action area "Supply chain responsibility" can be found here: Field of action Supply chain responsibility | Seeberger GmbH

Details of the research project can be found here: BioVal - Biodiversity Valuing & Valuation (bio-val.de)