Biodiversity Monitoring System for the Food Sector

With the Biodiversity Monitoring System, standards, food companies and producer groups can check the performance of certified farms and/or supplying farmers with regard to biodiversity. With the help of the monitoring system, strengths and weaknesses are identified - an important basis for identifying potential for improvement and for taking appropriate measures such as targeted training and/or incentives for implementing criteria. Monitoring of biodiversity performance on production level enables: * Creating data time series that form the basis for transparent and evidence based impact reporting * Following a Continuous Improvement approach * Detection of challenges / risks / problems  * Impact evaluation of biodiversity measures * Revising standard criteria and companies' sourcing guidelines * Credible argumentation towards critical stakeholders  * Provision of transparent information for consumers (e.g. standard/company being able to demonstrate an impact of implemented measures against the decline of pollinating insects) * Contribution to company commitments such as Zero Deforestation, Water Management Plan, Natural Capital Valuation  The biodiversity monitoring is based on 25 indicators with high relevance for the protection of biodiversity, the creation of potential for biodiversity and the reduction of negative impacts on biodiversity. The indicators represent a good compromise between scientific demands and practicability. Data of from associated farms can be collected with the entry mask of the Biodiversity Monitoring System. The individual data sets are aggregated and can be evaluated in many different ways. The results can be filtered to display the data for a specific country, region, climatic region, production system or type of farm management (conventional, integrated pest management, organic, biodynamic).The monitoring results are presented in nine thematically grouped clusters so that users can gain an overview of the biodiversity performance.