Food behaviour changes to mitigate species biodiversity losses

Global food systems remain one of the dominant anthropogenic drivers of biodiversity loss through land-use change, habitat conversion, pollution, and resource use. Despite their substantial mitigation potential, demand-side interventions in the food system remain comparatively underexplored relative to supply-side approaches. This is due to the lack of accounting approaches that capture: (1) the cross-system processes, especially indirect linkages between dietary and consumption behaviour, food supply, land use, and finally biodiversity, but also (2) the uncertainties inherent in human behaviour.

Hence, we use FeliX, a global-scale, highly coupled Integrated Assessment Model with strong demand representation, to develop an integrative modelling framework that captures the dynamic feedbacks linking a range of food system behavioural levers to species biodiversity and relevant sustainability objectives. We consider multiple behavioural levers such as dietary change, food waste reduction, and adoption of alternative proteins in our analysis. We also construct an experimental design that systematically explores drivers and uncertainties in behavioural change, including adoption rates of different diets, distribution and dietary compositions, to investigate a variety of plausible biodiversity futures.

We intend to (1) identify key demand-side scenarios in mitigating species loss (projected by Mean Species Abundance), and to understand the underlying mechanisms through which behaviours drive ecological outcomes; and consequently (2) evaluate how these biodiversity-focused scenarios interact with broader sustainability objectives, such as climate mitigation, nutritional adequacy, water and fertiliser use, to identify robust strategies relevant to the broader Agriculture, Food and Land Use (AFOLU) nexus.

The analysis is expected to highlight behavioural pathways that offer potential for mitigating species biodiversity loss, while providing model-based insights into possible leverage points. In addition, the trade-offs and co-benefits identified can also offer insights into the conditions under which biodiversity goals can be achieved without undermining other sustainability objectives.

This research contributes to biodiversity futures by understanding the potential role of food demand in influencing species loss and implications for broader goals. Methodologically, it demonstrates an integrated modelling framework that emphasises human behaviour, values and culture, and can be adapted to explore a wider range of biodiversity goals and support integrative policy strategies.