May 22 – World Biodiversity Day - FederBio

FederBio emphasizes this on the occasion of World Biodiversity Day, dedicated this year to the theme ' Acting locally for a global impact' : a direct reminder of the value of daily choices and local actions, capable of generating concrete change for the protection of nature and the future of the planet.

Organic farming, by eliminating the use of synthetic chemicals and promoting practices such as crop rotation, the addition of organic matter, and the protection of natural habitats, remains one of the most effective tools for strengthening and regenerating agricultural balances. This is complemented by the fundamental role of small and medium-sized farms, local food systems, biodistricts, and short supply chains: an economic and social model that enhances rural identities and communities, directly contributing to the protection of biodiversity and the resilience of local areas.

The 2025 report on Common Birds in Agricultural Areas in Italy , produced as part of the CAP National Network with the support of LIPU/BirdLife Italia, clearly captures the ecological crisis of the Italian countryside: in 26 years, the country has lost 33% of its agricultural bird population. The decline is even more pronounced in lowland areas, where the decline reaches 50%, partly due to intensive agriculture and the disappearance of hedgerows and vine rows. This is a warning signal confirming the need to accelerate the transition to agroecological models capable of combining production, biodiversity, soil protection, and the reconstruction of rural habitats.

Confirming the strategic role of organic farming for biodiversity, the recent research Organic agricultural landscapes support critical pollinator diversity , published in Global Ecology and Conservation , highlights how the organic model favors greater abundance, diversity and reproductive capacity of solitary bees, pollinators essential for the health of agricultural environments and for food security.

Comparing organic and conventional farms, the study found that organic systems had richer, more vibrant, and more diverse bee communities. By eliminating synthetic chemicals and encouraging the presence of flowers, organic farming creates more suitable habitats for pollinators, with benefits that extend to the surrounding landscape, up to 500 meters away.

"Biodiversity loss is not just an environmental emergency; it compromises ecosystem services, generating knock-on effects on food security and community well-being," emphasized Maria Grazia Mammuccini, President of FederBio. " The link between nature, the health of local communities, and the quality of life is inextricably linked. This is why the progressive advancement of Overshoot Day, the day on which a country exhausts the natural resources that the Earth can regenerate in a year, is a cause for concern. This year, in Italy, the ecological debt began on May 3rd: since that date, we have been consuming more resources than we can regenerate, putting pressure on soils, biodiversity, and the living organisms that support natural habitats and food production. The agroecological transition represents a concrete response to building a healthier and more balanced relationship between environmental, economic, and social sustainability; it is a model that protects soils, the environment, and agricultural income, strengthening the bond between producers, citizens, and local communities. Biodiversity sustains life; defending it means protecting the future of agriculture and food, a commitment that involves the fundamental role of the of small and medium-sized agricultural companies, custodians of nature, local breeds and varieties, which represent territorial knowledge and identity, and constitute the most authentic expression of Italian organic farming”.