Biodiversity loss is not just an ecological issue. It is closely linked to the way economies, food systems, policies and societies are organised. According to researchers, reversing biodiversity loss therefore requires more than technical solutions alone: it calls for fundamental societal change.
This challenge lies at the heart of the international Transformative Change for Biodiversity Conference taking place on 4 and 5 June 2026 in Brussels.
Researchers from Wageningen University & Research (WUR) will play a prominent role during the conference. WUR is involved in several European research projects that develop knowledge and practical pathways for transformative change in support of biodiversity.
European collaboration around transformative change
The conference will bring together researchers, policymakers, societal organisations and practitioners to explore how societal systems can shift towards nature-positive futures. The event serves as the joint final conference of nine Horizon Europe projects within the so-called Transformative Change Cluster. Together, these projects examine how deep systemic shifts can help halt and reverse biodiversity loss.
WUR plays a key role within the cluster, both as project coordinator and project partner. The following projects with strong WUR involvement will take centre stage during the conference:
- Transpath explores how societal and economic systems can change to better support biodiversity and sustainability;
- TC4BE works on fair, just and inclusive transformative changes that help restore nature and biodiversity;
- BIOTraCes studies pathways for societal transformation, focusing on how collaboration between people, organisations and initiatives can contribute to biodiversity restoration;
- DAISY focuses on democratic and inclusive sustainability transitions, examining how citizens, governments and organisations can work together towards sustainable and just change;
- BioAgorais a European flagship project that strengthens connections between science, policy and society around biodiversity.
From knowledge to societal change
The conference closely aligns with WUR’s broader research on transformative change and biodiversity. Researchers are working on questions such as: how can financial systems, governance, policy and societal values change in ways that genuinely reduce biodiversity loss?
“Biodiversity loss is driven by many different factors, so there is no single solution,” says Rosalie van Dam, researcher at Wageningen Environmental Research. “We need to look at the systems behind food production, finance, policy and consumption. That is precisely why collaboration between science, policy and practice is so important.”
One example is research from the TransPath project on the role of the financial sector in sustainability transitions. WUR researchers show how financial institutions can contribute to systemic change by not only assessing risks, but also actively steering towards societal impact.
During the conference in Brussels, WUR researchers will share insights from interdisciplinary and practice-oriented research on topics including governance, just transitions, biodiversity policy, and collaboration between science, policy and society.
Looking ahead
The conference not only marks the conclusion of several European research projects, but also the starting point for new collaborations and research agendas on biodiversity and transformative change. In the second half of 2026, several new Horizon Europe projects in this field will be launched, including DRAGONS, BIOLOGUE and BALANCE, all involving WUR researchers. BALANCE focuses on practical insights for implementing the European Nature Restoration Regulation and supporting the transition towards nature-positive farming systems.
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