{"id":6100,"date":"2026-10-06T09:49:33","date_gmt":"2026-10-06T09:49:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/food-biodiversity.de\/strategy-for-the-roll-out-of-the-basic-set-temperate-regions\/"},"modified":"2026-10-15T12:33:45","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T12:33:45","slug":"strategy-for-the-roll-out-of-the-basic-set-temperate-regions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/food-biodiversity.de\/en\/strategy-for-the-roll-out-of-the-basic-set-temperate-regions\/","title":{"rendered":"Strategy for the Roll-out of the Basic Set Temperate Regions"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/1″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”158437″]<\/p>\n

1. Concept for the Roll-out of the Basic Set Biodiversity Criteria<\/h2>\n

The biodiversity criteria of the Basic Set should be comprehensively considered to make agricultural supply chains ‘biodiversity responsible’. The focus is on raw materials with high relevance for the food industry <\/u>and biodiversity<\/u>. The prioritisation of raw materials, a schedule, and the documentation of implementation are important aspects for transitioning from pilot projects to roll-out. <\/p>\n

The roll-out strategy now outlines the next step: moving forward by addressing each supply chain individually, aiming to create significant leverage for biodiversity conservation. The commitment to apply the criteria of the Basic Set to the production of relevant raw materials is thus systematically implemented throughout specific supply chains. This strategy provides a framework and clear guidelines to enable the Food for Biodiversity association to set and communicate ambitious, measurable goals. At the same time, it offers enough flexibility to its members to account for individual plans and specific circumstances. Figure 1 presents a summary of the strategy.[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image media=”6290″ media_width_percent=”100″ uncode_shortcode_id=”190677″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”173828″]<\/p>\n

2. Target Groups<\/h2>\n

The primary objective is to encourage the food and beverage sector in Germany, as well as internationally, to adopt the Basic Set as a foundational requirement of biodiversity performance. Accordingly, implementation efforts extend beyond Food for Biodiversity members and are directed towards all stakeholders within the sector, including retailers, manufacturers, standard-setting organisations, suppliers, and farmers’ cooperatives. Each stakeholder group has to play their part in the roll-out: <\/p>\n

Food and beverage retailers, producers and suppliers<\/strong> are expected to integrate the Basic Set criteria into the supply chains of the risk raw materials. They are encouraged to support farmers within these supply chains to enhance on-farm biodiversity performance, providing assistance through financial and other incentives, training, and extension services. All actors along shared supply chains are encouraged to cooperate to identify and implement solutions jointly. Food for Biodiversity will gather practical approaches for individual company-specific programmes that support the financing of improved biodiversity performance. These recommendations are non-binding and can be adapted by companies according to their respective supply chain contexts and implementation capacities. <\/p>\n

Standard-setting organisations<\/strong> play a central role by certifying producers of risk raw materials that comply with the Basic Set criteria, thus facilitating wider adoption throughout the sector. Another crucial aspect is capacity building, e.g., supporting farmers in the practical implementation of the standards, as well as providing targeted training on biodiversity. Through capacity building and individual guidelines, or by providing experts, farmers are empowered to effectively and continuously implement biodiversity-promoting measures. <\/p>\n

Business associations<\/strong>, environmental non-governmental organisations, and scientific institutions offer their expertise and communication resources to advance the adoption and implementation of the Basic Set.<\/p>\n

Farmer cooperatives<\/strong> are encouraged to align with the Basic Set criteria and implement relevant biodiversity measures, recognising the vital role that farmers play in preserving biodiversity.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”312736″]<\/p>\n

3. Risk Raw Materials<\/h2>\n

The Basic Set roll-out will be focused on a group of seven risk raw materials that have been selected by Food for Biodiversity and its members. The selected risk raw materials cover the following: <\/p>\n

    \n
  • Vegetables*<\/strong><\/li>\n
  • Fruits**<\/strong><\/li>\n
  • Wheat<\/strong><\/li>\n
  • Rapeseed<\/strong><\/li>\n
  • Sugar Beet<\/strong><\/li>\n
  • Dairy***<\/strong><\/li>\n
  • Meat***<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    * = Subgroups include fruit vegetables; root, tuber, onion vegetables; leafy, stem vegetables; cabbage vegetables; ** = subgroups include pome, stone fruit, strawberries, soft fruit, citrus fruit; *** main focus fodder: maize, wheat, rapeseed, soya[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”205251″]<\/p>\n

    4. Steps for the Roll-out<\/h2>\n

    4.1. Scope of the Basic Set<\/h4>\n

    The term “Basic Set” always refers to the current document of the published Basic Sets. Currently, the 2nd<\/sup> edition of the Basic Set Europe is meant (Basic Set Biodiversity Criteria for the Food Sector \u2013 Basic Set for temperate regions (Europe, 2nd<\/sup> Edition)). <\/p>\n

    The Basic Set covers supply chains for the defined seven risk raw materials, focusing on producers and suppliers in temperate regions<\/strong> (see Appendix 1 for details). It applies solely to agricultural production<\/strong> and excludes processing or other value chain stages. To achieve effective biodiversity protection, enhancement and restoration, the Basic Set criteria should be applied to the entire farm. <\/strong>If a standard certifies on crop-level, criteria for general practices, such as the Biodiversity Action Plan, should be valid for the whole farm. <\/p>\n

    4.2. Specification of the Basic Set (Commodity Basic Sets)<\/h4>\n

    In 2026, Food for Biodiversity will develop six Basic Sets tailored to specific raw materials. The six commodities have been selected from a list of seven risk raw materials. Some of these commodities currently have a low standard coverage. Here, the aim is to improve existing standards or even motivate standard-setting organisations to create a standard based on the raw material-specific Basic Sets. <\/p>\n

    4.3. Implementation Plans for each Raw Material<\/h4>\n

    Prioritisation:<\/strong> Companies prioritise raw materials according to individual possibilities, the complexity of supply chains and composition of products.<\/p>\n

    Market Scope:<\/strong> The focus is on products for the German market. An expansion to additional European market countries will be evaluated <\/p>\n

    Risk-based approach:<\/strong> The roll-out should commence in countries identified as high risk, based on the WWF Biodiversity Risk Filter, Water Risk Filter or similar tools. It is strongly recommended that retailers, along with food and beverage producers, collaborate to initiate activities in these high-risk sourcing regions. Focus should be on products and product groups that have the highest risks for biodiversity (products with the highest raw material shares). <\/p>\n

    Cooperation:<\/strong> Companies are encouraged to collaboratively address specific raw materials and their associated supply chains. As many organisations share suppliers, a coordinated approach can enhance implementation efforts and yield more effective outcomes for biodiversity. <\/p>\n

    4.4. Compliance with the Basic Set<\/h4>\n

    Ideally, all criteria of the Basic Set with relevance for the raw material selected are considered.<\/p>\n

    Standard-setting organisations:<\/strong>
    \nStandard-setting organisations fulfilling at least 70 % of the relevant criteria will be recommended by Food for Biodiversity as an instrument for rolling out the Basic Set of Biodiversity Criteria.<\/p>\n

    The standard-setting organisations commit to achieve a minimum of 90 % of the relevant Basic Set Criteria after five years. The organisations will provide a plan to Food for Biodiversity on how to achieve this aim. Having reached at least 90 % after 5 years, they will continue to be recommended by Food for Biodiversity for biodiversity-responsible sourcing. <\/p>\n

    Food and beverage retailers, producers and suppliers:<\/strong>
    \nCompanies can use standards recommended by Food for Biodiversity to prove their compliance with the Basic Set.<\/p>\n

    Companies with their own criteria in their procurement guidelines meet at least 70 % of the relevant Basic Set criteria in 2027 and 90 % by the end of 2030. Companies joining Food for Biodiversity later than 2026 have five years to achieve 90 % of compliance with relevant Basic Set criteria in their procurement guidelines. <\/p>\n

    Companies that wish to apply the Basic Set to alternative raw materials instead of the seven listed may do so with appropriate justification, subject to approval by the Food for Biodiversity Working Group Roll-out, e.g., through risk analysis.<\/p>\n

    4.5. Measuring Implementation for Companies<\/h4>\n

    Indicator for retailers:<\/strong>
    \nThe indicator is the percentage of the total amount of raw material in the defined scope. If the Basic Set is applied to 85 % of the total procurement volume (mt), these raw materials are considered to be “biodiversity-responsible” sourced. <\/p>\n

    Indicator for food and beverage producers and suppliers:<\/strong>
    \nThe indicator used is the total volume of purchased raw material categories in the defined scope. If at least 85% of the supply chain are covered, this raw material is considered to be \u201cbiodiversity responsibly\u201d sourced.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”676990″]<\/p>\n

    5. Reporting<\/h2>\n

    Food and beverage producers, retailers, and suppliers<\/strong> are required to present a comprehensive strategy outlining raw material sourcing for product groups, scheduling, and prioritisation details. Each company is accountable for demonstrating adherence to the Basic Set within the agreed timeline. Members must document their activities and outcomes annually following the roll-out documentation guidelines. <\/p>\n

    Standard-setting organisations<\/strong> are required to report regularly (ideally annually) to Food for Biodiversity on how their standard schemes have been updated in line with the Basic Set criteria.<\/p>\n

    Protection of sensitive reporting data<\/strong>: Where reported information could allow conclusions about individual sourcing strategies, supplier relationships or company-specific procurement structures, Food for Biodiversity will ensure that any communication or analysis shared within the association or externally is provided only in aggregated and\/or anonymised form. Appropriate safeguards will be applied to prevent the exchange of competitively sensitive information between competitors. Reporting to Food for Biodiversity will not include purchasing or sales prices.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”107197″]<\/p>\n

    6. Objectives<\/h2>\n

    Standard-setting organisations that align with the Basic Set are essential for the food companies to achieve their milestones.<\/p>\n

    Objectives for food and beverage producers, suppliers, and retailers:<\/strong>
    \nBy 2030<\/strong>, food companies are expected to roll out the Basic Set for two relevant raw materials<\/strong> within the scope defined by each company.<\/p>\n

    The long-term ambition is to apply the Basic Set to all relevant seven raw materials<\/strong> within the scope defined by each company by 2040<\/strong>. Companies participating in Food for Biodiversity are committed to actively developing and supporting the necessary structures to achieve this goal. <\/p>\n

    The \u201cStrategy for the Roll-out of the Basic Set Temperate Regions for the Promotion of Biodiversity in the Food and Beverage Sector\u201d will be regularly evaluated and adapted if needed.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”783980″]<\/p>\n

    7. Monitoring of Long-Term Impact<\/h2>\n

    The Basic Set requires standard-setting organisations and companies to conduct monitoring of key biodiversity-related factors and systematically analyse the aggregated data. The key figures and indicators suggested in the Basic Set serve as a guide. But the Basic Set does not specify how to exactly conduct monitoring, and which indicators are the most important ones and should be used. <\/p>\n

    Today, there exist various monitoring approaches and tools. Standard-setting organisations are working on metrics to collect data and information. Within the EU LIFE Project \u201cBiodiversity Governance and Performance of the Food Sector\u201d, Justus-Liebig University and Food for Biodiversity are working on a framework for monitoring biodiversity in the food sector. This framework will provide recommendations regarding structures, procedures and key data and indicators for effective and practical monitoring. The aim is to contribute to a harmonisation to facilitate data collection, relieve the burden on farmers and allow comparison of monitoring results. <\/p>\n

    The framework should be ready by the end of 2026. FfB will strongly recommend taking into consideration key data and indicators of the Basic Set of Biodiversity Criteria for monitoring.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”929574″]<\/p>\n

    8. Towards Biodiversity-Enhancing Framework Conditions<\/h2>\n

    Responsible actors of the food sector and the implementation of the Basic Set cannot alone achieve stopping the loss of biodiversity or even a net gain of biodiversity. Favourable political and economic framework conditions are needed to enable and accelerate the transition towards biodiversity-responsible food systems. Further details on concrete policy measures and enabling conditions are published in a separate political appeal.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/1″][vc_custom_heading uncode_shortcode_id=”580089″]The following FfB members commit themselves to implementing the Roll-out Strategy[\/vc_custom_heading][vc_gallery el_id=”gallery-102817″ medias=”4718,4719,4649,4746,6291,6292,4648,4728,4721,4724,4733,4727,4743,4729,4748,4732,4734,4738″ gutter_size=”3″ screen_lg=”1000″ screen_md=”600″ screen_sm=”480″ single_width=”2″ single_overlay_opacity=”50″ single_padding=”2″ uncode_shortcode_id=”135379″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/1″][vc_custom_heading uncode_shortcode_id=”835191″]The following FfB members support the implementation of the Roll-out Strategy[\/vc_custom_heading][vc_gallery el_id=”gallery-102817″ medias=”4722,4747,4739,4725,4740,4741,4742,4744,4730,4731,4749,4751,4717″ gutter_size=”3″ screen_lg=”1000″ screen_md=”600″ screen_sm=”480″ single_width=”2″ single_overlay_opacity=”50″ single_padding=”2″ uncode_shortcode_id=”126627″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/1″][vc_button size=”btn-lg” border_width=”0″ link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Ffood-biodiversity.de%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F10%2FStrategy-Roll-out-Basic-Set-v.4.3-Confirmed.pdf|title:Strategy%20for%20the%20Roll-out%20of%20the%20Basic%20Set%20Temperate%20Regions|target:_blank|” uncode_shortcode_id=”134470″]Download PDF[\/vc_button][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    With the Roll-out Strategy, Food for Biodiversity provides a framework for putting the Basic Set Biodiversity Criteria into practice across agricultural supply chains.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":6099,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[62],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6100","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/food-biodiversity.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6100","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/food-biodiversity.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/food-biodiversity.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/food-biodiversity.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/food-biodiversity.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6100"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/food-biodiversity.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6100\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6295,"href":"https:\/\/food-biodiversity.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6100\/revisions\/6295"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/food-biodiversity.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6099"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/food-biodiversity.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6100"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/food-biodiversity.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6100"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/food-biodiversity.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6100"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}