Key interdependencies among agriculture and food systems, biodiversity and ecosystems are being studied in order to better highlight these links and quantify the benefits of ecosystems to agriculture, health and livelihoods.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) outlines the aims of ongoing research as part of The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) Initiative.

“The work aims to bring together evaluations of ecosystems, and agricultural and food systems, which are usually undertaken in isolation,” says the article. By doing this, the study will gather the evidence needed for policy options that facilitate a transition towards more sustainable agricultural practices, particularly among smallholders.

An interim report of The TEEB Agriculture and Food Study (TEEB-AF) is expected to be released in October 2015. Other outputs include: a Scientific and Economic Foundations report; a Policies, Production and Consumption report; and a Synthesis Report.

Read the full story: TEEB Undertakes Economic Valuation of ‘Eco-Agri-Food’ Systems Complex

Find out more about the TEEB-AF Project