Criteria and tools
Our association provides practical tools to help integrate biodiversity into agricultural production: the Basic Set of Biodiversity Criteria, the Biodiversity Performance Tool (BPT), the Biodiversity Action Plan, and the Biodiversity Monitoring System (BMS). These instruments support stakeholders in planning, implementing, and measuring the success of concrete biodiversity measures—a crucial step toward more sustainable agriculture.
Basic Set Biodiversity Criteria for the Food Sector
The Basic Set provides a practical guide for integrating biodiversity criteria into standards, corporate policies, and producer group requirements. It serves as a key reference for all stakeholders looking to incorporate biodiversity considerations into their processes.
The focus is on agricultural production—the first and most critical stage in the food industry’s supply chains in terms of biodiversity impact. By applying the Basic Set, companies and producers can reduce or prevent biodiversity-related risks, contributing to effective biodiversity protection.
For food industry companies, implementing the Basic Set not only enhances their biodiversity performance but also ensures compliance with new legal due diligence and reporting requirements.
Importance for our association:
Our association will continuously develop the Basic Set by integrating new scientific findings, legal requirements, and practical experience.
Additionally, it is working on a support program to promote the broad and effective implementation of the Basic Set.
Click here to download the second edition of the Basic Set:
Click here to download the Basic Set for the Tropics:
Biodiversity Performance Tool Insects (BPTi)
Assessing and monitoring biodiversity potential on farms is still underdeveloped. There is a lack of practical tools to effectively evaluate biodiversity measures and their impact.
The Biodiversity Performance Tool (BPT) provides a comprehensive assessment of a farm’s biodiversity-related aspects using 79 key indicators across the areas of biodiversity management, landscape elements, agricultural practices, and socio-economic factors. The most relevant indicators are visualized in a traffic light system, allowing for quick and clear evaluation.
Based on this analysis, the BPT serves as a solid foundation for a Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP), which outlines targeted measures to protect habitats, enhance species diversity, and reduce negative impacts. Progress is documented directly in the tool, enabling continuous improvement over time.
The BPT has been further developed within the EU LIFE project “Insect Responsible Sourcing Regions” to include specific indicators for insect conservation and improved reporting functions. It now also fully aligns with the Basic Set of Biodiversity Criteria.
👉 Explore the BPTi here: https://bpti.biodiversity-performance.org/
For more information on usage options, please contact the Lake Constance Foundation:
📧 saskia.wolf@bodensee-stiftung.org
Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP)
A Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) is a key tool for promoting biodiversity on farms. It provides certified farms and advisors with a clear overview of existing biodiversity measures and evaluates their effectiveness within the local ecological context.
The BAP serves as a strategic foundation for defining targeted actions to support flora and fauna. It also helps farm managers and advisors continuously improve the quality and impact of biodiversity measures. By establishing a baseline, the BAP enables structured guidance for the sustainable enhancement of biodiversity performance.
An effective Biodiversity Action Plan should focus on two key areas for biodiversity protection:
The BAP should define clear goals and measures for both action areas.
Biodiversity Action Plan: Steps
A Biodiversity Action Plan comprises four steps:
- Description of the initial situation (baseline)
- Objective
- Selection, timeframe and implementation of measures to promote biodiversity
- Monitoring and Evaluation
The BAP should be reviewed and updated every three years.
Continuous improvement:
The implementation of measures takes place gradually – farmers can start with initial activities and continuously improve their biodiversity performance.
To ensure effective implementation, the farm or cooperative should appoint a responsible person with practical and theoretical knowledge in agriculture and biodiversity who holds a key role within the farm to successfully implement the BAP.
Biodiversity Monitoring System (BMS)
The Biodiversity Monitoring System (BMS) enables standards, food companies, producer groups, and associations to systematically assess and evaluate the biodiversity performance of certified farms, supplying farmers, or member operations.
The system is based on 60 key indicators that support biodiversity conservation and reduce negative impacts. Users can enter and analyze aggregated data from their affiliated farms, presented in nine clusters with tables and graphs. A filter function allows results to be refined by country, region, production type, farm size, and cluster. Strict security measures ensure that users can only access and analyze their own farm data.
As part of the “Unternehmen Biologische Vielfalt” initiative, the BMS has been updated to fully align with the Basic Set of Biodiversity Criteria. It is an ideal tool for monitoring implementation in projects or supply chains.
👉 Explore the BMS here: https://bms.biodiversity-monitoring.info/
📧 For more information, contact: marion.hammerl@bodensee-stiftung.org
CircHive – Standardized Methods for Biodiversity Assessment
The CircHive project (2022–2027) is developing innovative, standardized methods for biodiversity footprinting and natural capital accounting. Its goal is to help businesses and the public sector measure the impact of their activities on biodiversity and make informed, sustainable decisions.
By combining scientific approaches with practical applications, CircHive provides hands-on tools to better assess and integrate biodiversity into economic processes. The project brings together 15 research and 10 practice partners from across Europe.
🔗 Learn more: www.circhive.eu