Living Foodscape laboratories could guide regenerative agriculture investments worldwide.
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and IIASA — with the help of Vizzuality — have developed an interactive Foodscapes map that allows users to see the biophysical, management and socio-economic features that characterize the world’s food-growing regions. Using the best available global datasets of the biophysical drivers of food production (such as soil type and climate) and management (including crop type, water management and agronomic inputs), the team developed the first-of-its-kind Foodscapes report, which introduces a new global map of over 80 foodscape classes, as well as the challenges and pressures facing these foodscapes and the opportunities for nature-based solutions within them. The team behind the interactive Foodscapes map aims to offer a detailed understanding of these Foodscapes classes and show the potential of regenerative practices to support the necessary transformation of our global food system.
The call for environmental action and sustainability investment is growing among leading nonprofits such as The Nature Conservancy, private corporations, and, of course, the IPCC. The urgency for comprehensive, immediate, and equality-focused action and investments now also extends to sectors that have sometimes been overlooked in the sustainability and climate debate. Soil science, economic integration of smallholders and Indigenous farmers, and the implementation of regenerative production practices are finally being recognized as crucial investments towards a more sustainable and equal future. But how do we bring all of these building blocks together?
Julia Amato, who was The Nature Conservancy’s Associate Director of Communications for Regenerative Food Systems at the time, sat down for an interview with Vizzuality to explain how Foodscapes help take high-level analysis to a realistic vision of the changes that need to happen at local and subnational levels. A foodscapes-scale approach to planning allows us to meet demand, improve ecosystem services and address the challenges of climate change, all while keeping people and producers who are most impacted by environmental degradation and socio-economic pressures at the center. Foodscapes, she argued, facilitate these communities’ adoption of regenerative practices, as it is a holistic approach to food production that brings together policymakers and sectors throughout the entire supply chain. Read the full interview below.
Alex (Vizzuality): Hi Julia, it’s a pleasure talking to you today. In one of the articles you shared leading up to this conversation, TNC describes food as “the bedrock of cultures, communities, economies, ecologies, and so much more.” Could you elaborate on what this means?
Julia (TNC): Food is the ultimate convener. It brings people together. It transcends language barriers. So, it’s no wonder that food is also a central solution to the climate and biodiversity crises. By looking at how we produce food, we can work towards achieving not only TNC’s 2030 Goals but also UN SDG 2030 goals.
Alex: Transforming global food production is one of the key topics highlighted in the latest IPCC report, which made the case for implementing regenerative and sustainable farming practices since agriculture accounts for about 23% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The report states that “agriculture, forestry, and other land use response options require integrating biophysical, socioeconomic and other enabling factors.” This sounds a lot like what TNC and IIASA had in mind when they began developing Foodscapes?
Julia: Yes, indeed. When we think of a foodscape, we’re not only considering food production. We’re examining a region’s biophysical characteristics such as the soil types, the terrain, vegetation, topography, water, and more. We’re also looking at how that land is managed. Is it a grassland? A forest? Is it row crops? Is it grazing? On top of the biophysical characteristics and management attributes, you also have the socio-economic influences — the political and cultural aspects of a region- that drive food production. So, when we think of foodscapes as a concept for planning, we’re taking a holistic approach to food production.
When we think about food production at this scale, it allows us to keep the growers at the center. For example, if we were to only consider the biophysical and management aspects of a food-growing region, we may agree that it’s best to implement agroforestry in a grazing area because of its benefits to the land and water. But, it’s the producer who needs to plant the trees, which is an added expense for them. When we consider the political aspects of the region as well as the biophysical and management aspects, we can work to influence policy that supports the producer in planting those trees. Taking things one step further, we also consider the market demands of a region with foodscape-scale planning. In this example, we’d work with corporations to source their beef and beef products from producers implementing agroforestry practices. It’s truly a full-circle way to produce food.
Alex: How does this concept of foodscapes enable nature-based solutions and regenerative food systems?
Julia: Foodscapes give us the framing to think about where nature-based solutions will have the greatest impact. We’ve mapped out all the different food-growing regions of the world. Foodscpes help bridge the gap between high-level planning and on the ground action for regenerative practices. They allow for targeted action in high risk areas to maximize impact.
Nature-based solutions and regenerative agricultural practices successfully implemented in the appropriate foodscapes may be emulated in and tailored to similar foodscapes elsewhere. The Nature Conservancy provides detailed scenarios of different foodscapes in focus that are being managed as living laboratories through the application of nature-based solutions.
Alex: In the Foodscapes report, the team of scientists identified a total of 84 foodscape classes. Is this interactive foodscapes map primarily about physical aspects then or do they incorporate some of the other factors you mentioned?
Julia: By definition, a foodscape class considers not only the biophysical attributes, but also the management practices, the type of crop production and the size of farm. These 84 foodscape classes can then be consolidated into 10 biophysical groupings that are identified by the dominant soil type found in each of them. Soil type is determined by the interaction of parent material, climate, vegetation, terrain, time and human activity. The report and the map further clusters the foodscape classes into three intensity groupings: intensive, mixed mosaic and scattered cropland and grazing.
Alex: There is somewhat of a reemergence of humans’ awareness of the importance of soils, whether it’s through documentaries, short stories or also research projects dedicated to “a new soil deal.” Is there something to be said about renewing this kind of deeper connection with our soils, a lost connection so to say, that foodscapes can help us rediscover?
Julia: I personally believe we are at a really interesting time in human history where we’re recognizing more widely that we are a part of nature, not apart from nature. We are realizing that nature’s health is our health. Thinking about our soils, which are currently stripped of nutrients and drying out, you could philosophically say, so are we. Our health is nature’s health, and it’s quite clear that both need to be improved. I think starting with improving the health of the soil is fundamental to rebuilding our own health along with the health of the planet.
Alex: At Vizzuality, we often say we need to empower people in a growing conservation and sustainability movement, which includes those who are actually doing the work on the ground. Can you tell us a little bit how this concept of foodscapes puts the actual people who are most affected by climate change and environmental degradation at center, as empowered actors?
Julia: If we are to make the global food system changes that we need to see, it will be because of the producers implementing them. We have all the science and the data, but until they start to grow their food in these ways, none of this happens. We really need to listen to the local producers to actually understand their challenges and include them when we begin to discuss solutions. Without their leadership, none of the work would happen.
The Nature Conservancy is a convener, and we often bring many people from a wide variety of sectors together to find a way forward. It’s often the people who are closest to the on-the-ground work that have the best ideas and are the most innovative. TNC itself started as a grassroots organization, and I think this beginning is still at the heart of our people-centered approach to conservation.
Alex: So how can foodscapes accelerate the adoption rate of regenerative and sustainable agricultural practices by local producers?
Julia: By no means can TNC alone change the global food system. Our goal with foodscapes is to create living laboratories that showcase what’s possible with a holistic approach to food production. Over the next decade, we want to build 10 to 15 global foodscapes that are different in scale, production type, and have varying socio-economic and political environments. We want to create a diverse portfolio of work to show what’s possible in a variety of food-growing regions. We hope by showing what’s possible in these 10–15 foodscapes that we can influence and inspire collective food system change–from production practices to public and private policies.
Alex: Of course it is great to get big corporations and local producers aligned in favoring sustainable food production. It is also a very complex challenge and maybe it is not always easy to get things 100% right. In this context, how do you decide when to act and when not to act?
Julia: It’s important to find a balance when taking a people-centered approach, rather than acting too fast or too slowly. Building trust takes time, and it’s essential to approach people in a respectful way. At the same time, we know the clock is ticking and we need to take action. I think TNC often finds a good balance between taking action, even when things aren’t 100% perfect, and then learning and adapting along the way.
Collaboration with industries who have some of the largest footprints is necessary for change. It’s important to have a non-confrontational, open mindset and willingness to learn and adapt to make significant system changes.
Alex: Local farmers may face economic challenges when trying to make transformations towards more sustainable practices. Where can the necessary help and resources come from for them to ensure this is a feasible short-term and a profitable long-term solution?
Julia: There are many factors that contribute to the transformation of agriculture. Government policy is a major driver of production methods and what farmers grow. Local regulations and incentives heavily influence producers. The U.S. Department of Agriculture for instance recently provided an incentive to promote agroforestry in 29 U.S. states. This policy will provide farmers with the money they need to make changes and transition to planting trees on grazing lands, restoring forests that have been cut down for cattle grazing.
Nonprofits like TNC can also play a role in helping farmers transition. They can provide equipment like the Happy Seeder, which is helping farmers in India. Private investment from foundations is also crucial.
Overall, government policy is the most significant lever for change, but a mix of policy, private investment, and nonprofit support can help make widespread regenerative production a reality. By putting farmers at the center, policies and incentives can be created that address their needs and help them make the necessary changes.
Alex: Thank you so much for your time Julia. I’ve learned a lot and I hope so will our readers.
Julia: It’s been a pleasure; I look forward to our future conversations.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length. The interview was conducted and written up by Alexander Wowra, who was Vizzuality’s Communications and Sustainability Specialist at the time. Julia Amato was Associate Director of Communications for Regenerative Food Systems at The Nature Conservancy at the time of the interview. Both have since moved on from their respective organisations. We are grateful for their dedicated work and for capturing some of that work in this article.
