Significance of Variety in Flora and Fauna for Long-term Food Quality and Personal Well-being
In a world teeming with life, biodiversity - the variety of life forms on Earth - plays a pivotal role in ensuring our sustainable nutrition and well-being. From plants and animals to microorganisms, these life forms form the foundation of our food system and contribute to our overall health.
Biodiversity is the source of many medicines used today, with over 70% of the world's population relying on plants and other natural resources for their primary healthcare. It is also deeply intertwined with cultural and traditional practices, especially in many indigenous communities.
However, deforestation, urbanization, pollution, overfishing, and the use of harmful chemicals are threats to biodiversity. These activities lead to a decline in food quality and nutrient diversity, disrupt ecosystem services vital to agriculture, increase vulnerability to diseases, and impact marine nutrition.
The loss of biodiversity erodes the genetic and species diversity that underpins healthy diets. This decline in food quality and nutrient diversity leads to reduced variety in crops, livestock, and wild foods, diminishing access to essential proteins, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants needed for balanced nutrition. This contributes to nutrient deficiencies and weakens immune systems, especially in vulnerable populations in low- and middle-income countries.
The loss of species also disrupts ecosystem services essential for food production. The loss of pollinators, for instance, threatens the production of many fruits and vegetables. Similarly, the loss of species that provide nutrient cycling, soil fertility, and water purification undermines crop yields and resilience to environmental stresses, threatening food security by decreasing both quantity and quality of food production.
The loss of biodiversity can also increase vulnerability to diseases. Lower genetic diversity in crops and animals amplifies susceptibility to pests, diseases, and environmental changes, risking major losses in key food resources. Additionally, reduced biodiversity can increase the likelihood of zoonotic diseases, posing direct threats to human health.
Biodiversity loss also impacts marine nutrition, such as coral reef degradation, which leads to reduced fish stocks that are critical nutrient sources for over a billion people globally. Restoration efforts like artificial reefs aim to improve fish populations and subsequently nutrition and health outcomes in coastal communities.
Moreover, biodiversity loss affects livelihoods and economies reliant on diverse biological resources, and also entails a loss of traditional knowledge and cultural heritage linked to ecosystems and natural foods.
In summary, biodiversity loss compromises sustainable nutrition by eroding the genetic and species diversity that underpins healthy diets, degrading ecosystem functions necessary for food production, and elevating health risks from poorer nutrition and more frequent disease outbreaks. This poses a major challenge to achieving long-term human well-being and health globally.
However, there are ways to protect biodiversity. Supporting sustainable agriculture, reducing waste, protecting natural habitats, planting a garden, and raising awareness are just a few examples. Agricultural practices that prioritize biodiversity can improve soil health by reducing the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides, enhancing soil structure, water retention, and nutrient cycling. Biodiversity also supports healthy microbiomes, providing the nutrients needed for a healthy gut microbiome, which is essential for digestion and preventing diseases.
Let's not forget that habitat loss is one of the biggest threats to biodiversity. By protecting habitats, we are ensuring a sustainable future for ourselves and future generations, and maintaining a continuous and reliable food supply, especially as we face the growing threat of climate change.
References:
[1] Tilman, D., Clark, M. (2014). Biodiversity loss and climate change as threats to sustainable agriculture. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 111(33), 12062-12066.
[2] IPBES (2019). Global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services. IPBES Secretariat, Bonn, Germany.
[3] Roberts, C. M., Hawkins, J. P., Ault, T. R., Baum, J. K., Baird, A. H., Baird, M. E., ... & Wilson, S. K. (2016). The global importance of coastal biodiversity for human well-being. Nature, 535(7611), 187-192.
[4] FAO (2019). The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2019. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome.
- Biodiversity, the foundation of our food system, is a source of many medicines and contributes to our overall health, with over 70% of the world's population relying on it for primary healthcare.
- The loss of biodiversity erodes the genetic and species diversity that underpins healthy diets, leading to reduced nutrient diversity and access to essential proteins, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, contributing to nutrient deficiencies and weakened immune systems.
- The loss of biodiversity also disrupts ecosystem services essential for food production, threatening crop yields and resilience to environmental stresses, potentially decreasing both the quantity and quality of food production.
- The decline in food quality and nutrient diversity due to biodiversity loss can increase vulnerability to diseases, as lower genetic diversity in crops and animals amplifies susceptibility to pests, diseases, and environmental changes.
- Biodiversity loss in marine environments, such as coral reef degradation, leads to reduced fish stocks that are critical nutrient sources for over a billion people globally, impacting their nutrition and health outcomes.
