New research helps to tackle the biodiversity impacts of farming

The new study involved working closely with colleagues from Duurzame Zuivelketen (DZK), among others. It is based upon data from the Dutch dairy sector in 2020, covering nearly 8,950 farms (approximately 1.6 million cows). They first established a single combined score to track biodiversity impacts against possible sectoral targets; but found that while using such a score can be helpful to track overall progress, such methods can mask important local impacts, such as nutrient pollution or habitat loss, that are currently poorly captured with existing biodiversity impact indicators.

To address this, the team developed a set of safeguards—clear, quantitative thresholds for major environmental pressures—to ensure progress in one environmental impact type does not come at the expense of other types elsewhere. If each of these safeguards were fully implemented, the researchers estimated this could take the sector most of the way towards biodiversity targets such as those outlined in the Global Biodiversity Framework.

Lead author and our Tutorial Fellow in Biology, Associate Professor Joseph Bull said:

“Our study shows that – though they are extremely useful – relying on simplified, combined indicators to track agricultural impacts on biodiversity can mislead if used alone. By introducing scientifically grounded safeguards, we can ensure that improvements in one area don’t cause damage somewhere else.”

The study outlines three feasible transition pathways for the dairy sector, from offset-heavy ‘adaptive compensation’ to a ‘deep net positive’ approach driven primarily by prevention. Each pathway presents trade-offs, particularly between production levels, land use, and restoration potential.

Co-author Dr Joseph Poore added:

“This study was an interesting test of whether single biodiversity impact scores, that capture many pathways causing biodiversity loss, are practical to implement and reliable. Our results generally found that these indicators serve a very useful role and the science is advancing fast. Soon we will probably know the biodiversity impacts of every product we buy in the shops and the biodiversity impacts of businesses and their choices. While not the solution to these problems in itself, this is certainly a step towards solving them.”

Find out more on the Department of Biology website or read the full article in npj Biodiversity.