The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and CGIAR have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration in transforming global food and agricultural systems towards a nature-positive approach. The partnership will focus on promoting sustainable production landscapes, land restoration, and the integration of biodiversity conservation into food and agricultural practices. With billions of people worldwide depending on nature for livelihoods through farming, fishing, and forestry, the collaboration aims to ensure that food security and rural economies thrive alongside healthy ecosystems.
The MoU emphasizes a shared commitment to accelerate action on multifunctional landscapes, ecosystem restoration, sustainable farming and livestock systems, climate resilience, and water resource management. It also aims to guide joint initiatives on policy advocacy, biodiversity-friendly value chains, knowledge generation, and support the implementation of international environmental agreements, including the Rio Conventions.
IUCN Director General Dr. Grethel Aguilar highlighted that healthy ecosystems are the foundation of food systems and human wellbeing. She stressed that nature-positive agriculture, where production works with rather than against natural systems, is essential for sustaining biodiversity, livelihoods, and resilient economies amid challenges like climate change and biodiversity loss. Similarly, CGIAR Executive Managing Director Dr. Ismahane Elouafi emphasized that the partnership will accelerate integrated and holistic approaches to sustainable agriculture and biodiversity conservation.
The collaboration builds on the complementary strengths of both organisations: CGIAR brings scientific leadership and field-based innovation, while IUCN contributes convening power, policy influence, and expertise from its commissions. Together, they aim to bridge science, policy, and practice, moving beyond individual projects toward coordinated, scalable impact.
This partnership aligns with IUCN’s 20-Year Strategic Vision approved at the 2025 World Conservation Congress, which mandates support for the transformation of food and agricultural systems. The Congress also adopted seventeen resolutions on the topic, including Resolution 002, calling for accelerated action toward nature-positive, sustainable agriculture and food systems.
Founded in 1971, CGIAR is the world’s largest global agricultural innovation network, providing evidence, innovations, and tools to policymakers and partners. Its mission is to advance the transformation of food, land, and water systems to address climate change, biodiversity loss, and sustainable development challenges.
