Synabio publishes indicators of progress in favour of biodiversity

To preserve biodiversity, "businesses must go further than the European regulation". This is the view of Synabio, the national union of bio-food companies. Following collaborative work with its members, the union is publishing progress indicators that it encourages to be deployed in organic businesses by 2022 and 2030.

Recent studies on biodiversity are sounding the alarm. The decline in certain populations of winged insects in Europe is estimated to reach 80% in 30 years. "This collapse is gradually depriving us of the ecosystem services provided by these living beings (pollination, pest control, etc.) and calls into question the sustainability of our production systems," warns the Synabio. The Syndicat national des entreprises bio agroalimentaires considers that organic farming is "a solid basis for preserving biodiversity" and puts forward some figures already present in the literature in 2005: "on average, 30% more species and 50% more individuals can be found in organic farming plots".

19 measurable indicators

However, it is now necessary "to respond to the urgency and growing expectations of civil society on this issue", believes the union, which has decided to "reaffirm its pioneering role through measurable progress indicators, beyond the requirements of the European organic regulation".

A working group made up of a dozen or so companies that are members of the network and strongly committed to the subject, with the support of the Solagro firm and the consultation of around ten stakeholders, has drawn up a list of 19 progress indicators that organic companies are encouraged to achieve by 2022 and 2030.

In order to participate in the "development of a coherent, demanding and sustainable bio", from 2021, the Synabio will offer its members and partners a support programme to help them deploy these commitments within their organisations.