Results & Practical Tools from the BioVal Project
On this page, you will find centrally compiled results, tools, and materials from the research project BioVal – Biodiversity Valuing & Valuation. The content is aimed at companies in the food industry that wish to integrate biodiversity into their processes, supply chains, and communication.
Whether it’s practical questionnaires for suppliers, tools for risk and impact analysis, management aids, or studies on consumer perception – the materials will support you in implementing an effective biodiversity management strategy.
Biodiversity Management Practice Handbook
24. September 2024
How do companies succeed in integrating biodiversity requirements into their processes? The “Biodiversity Management Practice Handbook” provides an answer to this question. This handbook provides companies in the food industry with practical approaches for integrating biodiversity management and also incorporates the tools developed in BioVal. The practical handbook also contains examples from the real laboratory companies Alfred Ritter GmbH & Co. KG, the Seeberger Group and FRoSTA AG, and shows how companies can identify biodiversity risks and take advantage of opportunities. The handbook guides you step by step through the processes, from analysis to the derivation of concrete measures and monitoring, in order to integrate biodiversity into corporate processes.
Building block for the Code of Conduct on Biodiversity (only german)
24. September 2024
Companies are not only required to manage biodiversity along the supply chain, they must also ensure that their suppliers are committed to biodiversity. One building block for this is to integrate biodiversity into the Supplier Code of Conduct. As part of BioVal, we have developed a more detailed and a less detailed module for you, which you are welcome to use. These modules were also developed together with the real laboratory companies.
Raising employee awareness and motivation for biodiversity (only german)
24. September 2024
Management tools can create the framework that helps to successfully integrate biodiversity into companies. However, this framework must be filled and the management tools must actually be used. And this is not possible without the employees. Accordingly, an important step towards successful integration is the development of knowledge within the company. Training for employees is an effective way of doing this. As part of BioVal, we have developed an exemplary set of slides for internal training courses to help companies explain to employees what is meant by biodiversity, why biodiversity is important for companies and what biodiversity has to do with their own supply chains. The training presentation also provides an outlook on how biodiversity can be managed in companies.
BVI Dashboard
Similar to the carbon footprint, the BVI method allows companies to quantify the impact of their own products on biodiversity along the supply chain – and thus make it controllable. Companies receive reliable data instead of mere estimates.
The method opens up a wide range of possible applications: For example, different origins of a product or different scenarios (e.g. varying use of fertilisers or fishing methods) can be specifically compared in terms of biodiversity. This results in effective levers for protective measures and more resilient supply chains.
The BVI method has been tried and tested in practice and can also be used with incomplete supply chain data.
To the dashboard with further information:
https://bvi-method.org/ressourcen/ressourcen-fuer-lca-praktikerinnen/
The ecoregions map: a component in risk analysis
Biodiversity is not the same as biodiversity. According to experts, the value of ecoregions varies greatly. This also means that there are regions where the impacts on biodiversity are more severe than in others, or conversely, that with good management, much can be achieved for biodiversity. In BioVal, we have developed a digital ecoregion map that you can use to get an initial assessment of the value of various potential sourcing regions. The map is also used in estimating the biodiversity footprint using the BVI method. Here you can access the ecoregion map. Further information can also be found in the practical handbook on biodiversity management.
Impacts on biodiversity occur primarily at the origin of the raw materials. The supplier questionnaires developed in BioVal help to assess the performance of suppliers on biodiversity and thus also contribute to raising awareness of the issue. As part of BioVal, the supplier questionnaires – like all management approaches developed – were tested by the real laboratory companies and companies from the Biodiversity Working Group. The questionnaires can also be combined with the other approaches developed, such as the ecoregion map for analyzing the biodiversity value of cultivation regions and the biodiversity footprint. The questionnaires can be sent directly to suppliers. However, the questions can also be integrated into existing sustainability performance questionnaires. The following questionnaires are available:
Supplier questionnaire on agriculture biodiversity including assessment (english)
24. September 2024
Supplier questionnaire on aquatic biodiversity (fisheries, aquaculture)
24. September 2024
Supplier questionnaire on agriculture biodiversity
24. September 2024
Supplier questionnaire on agriculture biodiversity including assessment
24. September 2024
Presentation of results “Communicating corporate commitment to biodiversity conservation” on 15.05.2024 at the fifth Biodiversity Working Group (only german)
29. July 2024
As part of the online event series “Biodiversity Working Group” for companies in the food industry, key results of the second representative consumer survey with 1,500 respondents were presented on May 15, 2024. The survey was conducted by the Center for Technology and Society (ZTG) at the Technical University of Berlin. Using a conjoint analysis, sample products from the project partners Alfred Ritter GmbH&Co KG, FRoSTA AG and Seeberger GmbH were used to determine which design and statements on biodiversity protection are preferred by consumers and how these communication messages affect their willingness to pay for food produced in a biodiversity-friendly way.
Presentation "How can biodiversity be implemented in sustainability management?" at the LZ-Summit "Packaging & Sustainability" on 11.06.2024 (only german)
11. June 2024
The LZ Summit "Packaging and Sustainability" took place in Frankfurt am Main on June 10-11, 2024. Dr. Ulrike Eberle (ZNU, Project Manager BioVal) and Isabell Schäfer (Seeberger GmbH, Sustainability Officer) presented the results of the BioVal project. Dr. Ulrike Eberle explained the promotion of biodiversity along the food value chain and the BVI method for quantifying biodiversity effects, which works in a similar way to calculating a climate footprint. Isabell Schäfer reported on how Seeberger GmbH integrates biodiversity into the supply chain, raises awareness among suppliers and evaluates them. The aim is to firmly anchor biodiversity in supplier management. The challenges here are the diversity of products, suppliers and procurement regions as well as the price sensitivity of consumers.
Focus group discussion with consumers: Need for information on biodiversity when buying food (only german)
19. April 2023
Based on the results of the representative consumer survey of June 2022, a focus group discussion was conducted in February 2023 in order to deepen the need for information on biodiversity in food purchasing. In the online discussion round, it was discussed which information is important to consumers, how detailed they want to be informed, whether differences are made between different product groups, how consumers want to be informed about measures to protect biodiversity and when information is perceived as reliable. The explorative study serves as a basis for a further planned representative survey on the willingness to pay for biodiversity-friendly food.
Consideration of biodiversity in companies of the German food industry (only geman)
5. March 2022
The white paper "Consideration of biodiversity in companies of the German food industry" has examined the status quo of biodiversity management in companies of the German food industry: Is biodiversity considered in the management of companies? Which measures are implemented? How is the effectiveness measured? What are the opportunities and challenges? Which stakeholder groups are involved in the alignment of biodiversity measures? The authors Lynn Alber from fjol GmbH, Verena Timmer and Julius Wenzig from the ZNU - Center for Sustainable Corporate Management at the University of Witten/Herdecke show that the protection of biodiversity is generally considered relevant in the German food industry. This is because food systems are highly dependent on functioning ecosystems. Nevertheless, biodiversity has not yet been prioritized, especially in operational processes, and has not been implemented via already established procurement instruments.
BioVal living lab Seeberger: Vision on the social effects (only german)
7. October 2022
The company Seeberger GmbH has been part of the research project BioVal - Biodiversity Valuing & Valuation since 2021. The BioVal project aims to develop a scientific method on the biodiversity impacts of food production and to support companies in anchoring the protection and promotion of biodiversity in their management. Seeberger was already working with a questionnaire prior to the BioVal project, with which they evaluated the sustainability performance of their suppliers. In the course of the project, this questionnaire will be revised so that the protection and promotion of biodiversity can be recorded in a differentiated manner. In addition, Seeberger is conducting a risk analysis to better address the ecological risks of the various suppliers. As part of the formative evaluation of BioVal, the scientific team discussed with Seeberger at the beginning of the project which output and social effects should be achieved with the transdisciplinary cooperation in the BioVal project.
BioVal living lab Ritter Sport: Vision on the social effects (only german)
4. August 2022
Alfred Ritter GmbH & Co. KG has joined the BioVal research project as a practice partner in 2021 and is pursuing the goal of finding out what demands the company should make on its raw material procurement in order to be able to contribute to the preservation and promotion of biodiversity in the supply chain. Specifically, the impact of individual raw materials on biodiversity is to be mapped in order to integrate this information into the procurement process. The initial focus is on the raw materials cocoa, milk and palm oil. As part of the formative evaluation of BioVal, the scientific team together with Ritter Sport discussed at the beginning of the project what output and social effects should be achieved with the transdisciplinary collaboration in the BioVal project
Biodiversity in Life Cycle Assessment, Factsheet for corporations
7. October 2022
Impact Assessment of Land Using Processes on Biodiversity This factsheet gives a brief insight into the underlying methodology - in the BioVal project - for assessing biodiversity impacts, which was created for the target group of companies.
