Brief Background 
Agriculture has been reported as the main driver of forest and biodiversity loss. This loss of biodiversity includes diversity that is crucial for healthy diets and nutrition. Similarly, a third of the World’s soils are degraded. In addition, agriculture counts for about 70% of the global freshwater withdrawals. Agrifood systems are also responsible for a third of global anthropogenic GHGs and contribute significantly to point and non-point pollution. With science, we can effectively feed the future, while protecting the environment and safeguarding biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services, to advance the three Rio conventions (Biodiversity, climate, desertification/land degradation). The 2030 CGIAR Research and Innovation (R&I) strategy clearly shows how multifunctional and resilient landscapes as well as sustainable farming systems could play a critical role in achieving ambition. 
The CGIAR 2022-2024 R&I portfolio initiatives were designed with environmental health and biodiversity lenses. Significant lessons have been learnt during the implementation of the initiatives and importantly through engagement in the respective processes of the three Rio Conventions [i.e., Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the United Nations Conventions to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)]. The CGIAR 2025-2030 R&I portfolio science programs (SP) and accelerators (AC) have been designed to integrate such lessons, with the multifunctional landscapes (MFL) and Sustainable Farming (SF) SP playing a pivotal role.  

Transitioning to regenerative and circular food systems, protecting and restoring the natural capital, reducing environmental pollution related to food systems, and addressing the root causes of environmental degradation and biodiversity loss are critical to deliver on the Rio Conventions. Reference to these Conventions, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) particularly Target 2 (Zero Hunger), Target 6 (Clean water and sanitation), Target 12 (Responsible consumption and production), Target 14 (Life below water), Target 15 (Life on land), and target 17 (Partnerships for the goals), the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF), and selected resolutions of the United Nations Environmental Assembly among others, offers a good opportunity to set proven benchmarks. This side event is an opportunity to highlight the CGIAR 2025-2030 portfolio priorities on environmental health and biodiversity, and how best the MFL and SF SP plan to create an inclusive community of practice within and beyond CGIAR bringing together members across CGIAR centers, science programs and accelerators as well as close partners with shared objectives on environmental health and biodiversity. 

Objective 
The Science Week represents a great opportunity to share the CGIAR vision on environmental health and biodiversity, with a wide audience, based on the current design of the various SP and AC, to seek and incorporate their feedback as applicable. Similarly, it is also a great chance for the SP and AC to align and identify opportunities for further synergies. This is quite timely, to share our experience and lessons learnt from the just concluded conference of parties (COP) of the three Rio conventions (Quarter 4 of 2024), while strategizing for the UNFCCC COP30. Several parties to the Rio Conventions look forward to the joint implementation of these conventions to maximize synergies, though operationalizing the integration remains a challenge. It is a mandate of CGIAR to contribute scientific evidence to optimize synergy in food, land and water systems and there is wide recognition that land is the most outstanding integrator of the Rio conventions.  

As a reminder, the 16th COP of CBD identified three key areas to boost the momentum of action: (i) translate the biodiversity plan into resolute national actions, (ii) mobilize and bolster the means for implementation, and (iii) accelerate progress on access and benefit sharing. Priority topics included: (a) access and benefit sharing of digital sequence information on genetic resources, (b) biodiversity, nutrition and health, (c) gender mainstreaming, (d) role and responsibilities of indigenous people and local communities for successful implementation of the KM-GBF, (e) means for accelerated implementation of the KM-GBF, (f) climate and nature, and (g) monitoring framework for the KM-GBF. Similarly, the 16th COP of UNCCD identified the following priority areas: (i) accelerate restoration of degraded land, (ii) boost drought preparedness, response and resilience, (iii) ensure that land continues to provide climate and biodiversity solutions, (iv) boost resilience to escalating sand and dust storms, (v) scale-up nature-positive food production, (vi) strengthen women’s land rights to advance land restoration, and (vii) promote youth engagement, including decent land-based jobs for youth. The side event will explore how well our SP and AC are prepared to contribute to addressing the global challenges will local solutions. Equally important, it is an opportunity to initiate partnerships for joint delivery of the CGIAR targets.  

Side Event outcomes 
- Constructive feedback within and beyond CGIAR on the portfolio ambition on environmental health and biodiversity based on selected benchmarks and the role that the MFL and SF SP would play to enhance synergies across the CGIAR 2025-30 R&I portfolio 
- Partnership opportunities identified for joint action and co-investment to effectively contribute to deliver on the Rio Conventions 
- Foundation laid for a larger community of practice on environmental health and biodiversity within and beyond CGIAR.