A fresh research initiative under the Transformative Change for Biodiversity and Equity (TCforBE) project is tackling the environmental and social impacts of modern agrifood systems. Running from 2022 to 2026 and developed in collaboration with CIFOR-ICRAF and the Global Landscapes Forum, this initiative examines how EU agricultural trade influences biodiversity‐rich nations in the Global South. Rising global demand for crops like cocoa, banana, palm oil, and tea is driving deforestation and drastic land-use changes in countries such as Cameroon, Colombia, and Kenya—places that bear the hidden environmental costs of global trade.
By engaging stakeholders from the EU down to local communities, the TCforBE project is working to develop transformative pathways that not only safeguard vital ecosystems but also promote equity for Indigenous Peoples and vulnerable groups. This approach bridges the gap between the realities on the ground and high-level policy debates, setting a foundation for more sustainable and balanced agrifood systems.