Living Links Connecting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: Small-scale Farmers and Agricultural Biodiversity

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Agenda 2030 adopted by the global community in September 2015 apply to all countries with the commitment “that no one is left behind.” As a plan for “people, planet, prosperity, peace, and partnership,” Agenda 2030 provides a vision for people and planet-centered, human rights-based, and gender-sensitive sustainable development. It promises “more peaceful and inclusive societies” free from fear and violence. Small-scale farmers and agricultural biodiversity are critical to the achievement of aspects of most of the SDGs. In addition to being essential for the resilience and stability of agricultural production systems and our ability to adapt to climate change and other stressors, agricultural biodiversity is fundamental to billions' livelihoods, health, and nutrition. Despite its importance to the health of both people and the planet, this broad understanding of agricultural biological diversity and its critical role played by its custodians gets no explicit mention in the SDGs. Awareness of this is low outside specialized institutions and agreements, and a clear statement of both is rare in the context of sustainable development. This paper uses the example of small-scale farmers and agricultural biodiversity to illustrate how they are the living links amongst the SDGs and critical components in their achievement and to the vision of Agenda 2030.