BIODEV2030 Uganda policy brief charts path to biodiversity-friendly agriculture – Story

The BIODEV2030 project partnered with Uganda’s Ministry of Agriculture to launch a landmark policy brief, a blueprint for farming that feeds the nation without costing the earth. 
Uganda sits at a crossroads. The country has both valuable ecosystems and a highly active agricultural sector. Its long-term development depends on how it balances feeding its population with protecting its natural environment.

On 20 May 2026, a significant step was taken toward resolving that tension. The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), working in close partnership with IUCN through the BIODEV2030 project, officially launched the Agriculture Production Policy Brief in Kampala which is a forward-looking document that lays out a concrete roadmap for biodiversity-friendly farming in Uganda.
The launch took place during the BIODEV2030 Legacy Workshop, where partners reviewed achievements and outlined pathways to scale biodiversity-positive investments beyond the project’s May 2026 completion date.

The launch signals a renewed commitment by the Ugandan government and its development partners to align agricultural growth with sustainable environmental practice. For IUCN, whose BIODEV2030 initiative supports mainstreaming biodiversity across key economic sectors in developing nations, the policy brief represents a tangible output of years of technical engagement, field evidence, and stakeholder collaboration.
During the launch event, Dr. Paul Mwambu, the Commissioner of Crop Inspection and Certification at MAAIF emphasized the urgent need to address unsustainable farming practices. He noted, “While striving to increase food production, farmers often engage in activities that degrade the environment. Excessive and unsafe use of agricultural chemicals can damage soils and water sources, harm biodiversity, and pose risks to human health as well as market access.” These remarks cemented the core challenge the policy brief seeks to address. Uganda’s agricultural sector has expanded rapidly in recent decades, driven by population growth and rising demand, but that expansion has come at a cost of habitat encroachment, soil degradation, agrochemical runoff, and the steady erosion of the biological richness that underpins long-term food security itself.

Other stakeholders present at the event expressed optimism. Participants noted that the recommendations offer practical, implementable guidance for mitigating the environmental footprint of farming, without sacrificing productivity or livelihoods.
 

Key recommendations of the policy brief:
1.    Strengthen regulatory frameworks governing agrochemical use, tightening oversight of pesticide and fertiliser application to reduce ecological harm
2.    Promote environmentally friendly farming techniques, including agroforestry, integrated pest management, and soil conservation practices
3.    Enhance farmer awareness and education on biodiversity conservation, equipping communities with knowledge to make informed land-use decisions
4.    Integrate biodiversity considerations into agricultural planning and policy frameworks at national and district levels

The policy brief draws on IUCN’s global expertise and local evidence, it argues that healthy ecosystems are essential for sustainable food systems. 
The success of the reforms recommended in the policy brief will depend on a whole-of-society response with farmers adopting new practices, policymakers enacting enabling legislation, and development partners providing the technical and financial support to bridge the gap between ambition and implementation.
Uganda’s policy brief offered a replicable model, showing how conservation expertise applied at the intersection of agriculture and governance could reshape a nation’s relationship with its natural environment.