International Day for Biological Diversity 2025: GLOBALG.A.P. Creates Synergies for Nature and Responsible Development

International Day for Biological Diversity 2025: GLOBALG.A.P. Creates Synergies for Nature and Responsible Development 

COLOGNE, 22 May 2025 — On the occasion of the International Day for Biological Diversity, celebrated under the theme “Harmony with nature and sustainable development,” GLOBALG.A.P. calls on all actors – governments, the private sector, and civil society – to use synergies at every level and accelerate implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  

GLOBALG.A.P.’s commitment to biodiversity 

GLOBALG.A.P. actively embraces the International Day for Biological Diversity 2025 as a call to action. As a leading organization for smart farm assurance solutions, the organization continues to expand the integration of biodiversity into its work and supports stakeholders in reaching and sharing their achievements. “With the Environmental Sustainability Working Group, we are developing – in collaboration with a broad alliance of partners in a multi-stakeholder initiative – a sustainability solution that is currently being piloted in real-world settings,” explains Dr. René Capote, Senior Technical Expert at GLOBALG.A.P.   

Producer involvement: implementing solutions on the ground 

On the ground, Antonio Caballero Morote from Hortofrutícola Topi S.A., a local fruit producer in south-eastern Spain, is actively involved in piloting the new sustainability approach on their farm in Murcia. The Spanish stone fruit and grape producer’s participation highlights the vital role that producers play in implementing biodiversity measures. The experience of Hortofrutícola Topi S.A. also provides valuable insights into the potential benefits and challenges of integrating these practices into daily production operations, as they are currently being tested. “We are excited to be part of this interesting stakeholder collaboration. We also expect to create innovative and feasible biodiversity measures to further increase sustainability on our farms and also to make these measures visible to our clients,” says Antonio Caballero Morote. 

Retailer engagement: driving change across the value chain 

Another key partner in this pilot project is EDEKA Germany, which provides a perspective from the retail sector and insights on how the sector can influence responsible supply chains. By supporting pilot projects in Spain and Italy, EDEKA demonstrates how retailers can play a pivotal role in promoting biodiversity-friendly practices and raising consumer awareness on environmental sustainability and biodiversity.  

“Making agriculture more sustainable is one of the major challenges of our time – to ensure a long-term supply of high-quality and safe food while reducing environmental impact. GLOBALG.A.P. has been a reliable partner for us for many years when it comes to food safety, quality, consumer protection, and sustainability throughout the supply chain. The new Environmental Sustainability Solution combines key environmental issues such as soil health, water management, biodiversity, and climate change into a practical, verifiable system. As a long-standing supporting member, we have been actively involved in the development of the contents – which is why we welcome this important step towards sustainable agriculture all the more,” says Stephanie Finkbeiner, Head of Sustainability/CSR at EDEKA ZENTRALE Stiftung & Co. KG. 

Driving transformative change through partnerships 

This pilot project demonstrates how the private sector, together with producers and retailers, can lead transformative change by communicating biodiversity science, advocating for the accelerated implementation of the SDGs and the KMGBF, and initiating the required transformations. 

“GLOBALG.A.P. encourages all stakeholders to join forces, harness synergies, and continue taking bold action for biodiversity and responsible development. Only through collaboration, collective ambition, and partnerships is a prosperous present and future in harmony with nature possible,” concludes Dr. René Capote, Senior Technical Expert at GLOBALG.A.P. 

About GLOBALG.A.P.  

GLOBALG.A.P. certification solutions aim to promote safer and more responsible farming practices in agriculture, aquaculture, and floriculture. Producers, retailers, and supply chain stakeholders in over 130 countries use our internationally recognized standards to support the production of food and other farmed products in a manner that addresses today’s needs while preparing for future demands. Nearly 200,000 producers operate under GLOBALG.A.P. certification – covering more than four million hectares of plant production and almost three million metric tons of farmed seafood production annually. 

With a mission to provide industry-leading, cost-effective, and value-adding assurance and benchmarking solutions, GLOBALG.A.P. supports a more socially and environmentally responsible and resilient sector for the benefit of future generations. 

GLOBALG.A.P. is owned by FoodPLUS GmbH, based in Cologne, Germany. 
Press contact: Leonie Fischer – pressoffice@globalgap.org 

(photo credit: Hortofrutícola Topi S.A.)