Lidl develops first biodiversity standard for conventional fruit and vegetable farming
The loss of biodiversity poses an existential threat to ecosystems. As a food supplier, Lidl is aware of its responsibility to preserve ecosystems.
Against this backdrop, Lidl is working with internationally recognized experts on sustainable food systems and agricultural experts to develop the first biodiversity-focused cultivation standard for the conventional cultivation of fruit and vegetables in Europe. This standard is developed as an
add-on to the GLOBALG.A.P. Integrated Farm Assurance Standard (IFA) and thus integrated into an established certification system.
In the future, the standard will be available to all market participants - from producers to distributors - so that they can work effectively to protect biodiversity.
The team of experts includes Sustainable Food Systems GmbH (SFS) in the role of project leader, as well as the Global Nature Fund, Bioland, the Lake Constance Foundation, representatives of agricultural producers and Nürtingen-Geislingen University. The multi-stakeholder approach takes into account different perspectives and accompanying measures and thus promises high acceptance.
The result of this process will be that, in the future, farmers will implement measures in their business activities based on a catalog of criteria, which will contribute to the preservation of biodiversity and thus to the protection of species diversity. The standard is expected to be available by the end of 2021.
With the development of the biodiversity add-on by GLOBALG.A.P. for conventional fruit and vegetable farming, Lidl is actively promoting the protection of biodiversity as part of its sustainability strategy. The project is part of existing measures for the conservation of biodiversity. This also includes the offer of organic food and Lidl's own brand Bio Organic.
