The loss of biodiversity is a big problem for food security around the world. Here’s how it affects our food supply:

1. Genetic Diversity:

   • Different types of plants need genetic diversity to fight off bugs, illnesses, and weather changes.
   • According to a report in 2020 by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), more than 75% of the food we grow comes from just 12 plants and 5 animal species. This shows how fragile our food system is, as a disease could easily impact these few key species.

2. Ecosystem Services:

   • Diverse ecosystems offer important services like pollination, keeping soil healthy, and cleaning water.
   • For example, about 75% of the food crops we grow rely on pollinators like bees. If bee populations keep declining, we could see a drop of up to 20% in fruits and vegetables!

3. Resilience to Climate Change:

   • Ecosystems with more variety are better at handling climate challenges.
   • Research has shown that more diverse ecosystems can produce up to 50% more biomass. This means they can keep producing food even when conditions change.

4. Food Variety:

   • When we lose biodiversity, we also lose different types of foods, which is not good for our health.
   • There are over 1,000 edible plant species that people could grow, but many of them are not used much because we tend to focus on just a few types of crops.

In short, losing biodiversity upsets our farming systems, makes us more vulnerable to pests and diseases, weakens ecosystems, and can lead to less nutritious diets. This all poses a serious threat to food security around the world.