How genetic data could help unlock a new era of corporate nature action

In October 2024, over 3,000 companies and investors from around the world descended on the UN’s Biodiversity Conference, COP16 in Cali, Colombia. The topic at play? One of the most urgent challenges of our time: biodiversity loss.

COP16 was a definite turning point. The attendance from the corporate sphere was three times higher than COP15 in 2022. Companies were engaged and made meaningful contributions. The feeling of positivity toward championing a nature positive economy was palpable.

It was a clear indication that the private sector was ready to take action. But there was one small issue in the room that was being overlooked: how corporates begin to create positive change on the scale required.

In the last two years, we’ve seen a seismic shift in the proliferation of nature data and the rise of machine learning infrastructure. New biodiversity monitoring technologies and data sources are becoming readily available and deployable on a global scale. Alongside this, awareness continues to grow; fresh warnings on the state of biodiversity are being issued and a plethora of regulations on ecosystems are emerging. The EU’s new Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and Nature Restoration Law are leading the charge in Europe, stipulating that nations must develop plans to restore 20% of the EU’s land and sea by 2030. No small feat; but a clear call to action.

We’re seeing a convergence of the demand to measure and report on the state of nature, with the technologies required to do this. Herein lies the challenge — this new data deluge is leading to decision paralysis. The complete opposite effect we are striving to achieve.

The growing accessibility of biodiversity data shows huge progress. Businesses can now access data at many levels — from bioacoustics to satellite data, and AI-driven modelled insights. And it is being used in many positive applications; from analyzing risks and navigating supply chain resilience to supporting new reporting disclosures.

However, navigating the volume of these data sources and connecting it with global ambitions, is proving a major challenge. Biodiversity is complex and many solutions abstract this away, using proxies to indicate what is happening on the ground, which can lead to misleading statements and misguided decisions.

When deciding between data sources and platforms, one multinational bank recently stated in a report by the Nature Tech Alliance that they wanted a data platform that was specifically related to them and their business. They questioned the capabilities of whether platforms could provide insight at a “local or broader, sovereign-level view”. The solution lies in a combination of the two; by anchoring metrics to ground-level data, we can capture change in a localized way, leveraging the complexity of biodiversity to power accuracy of measurement.

Innovations in nature monitoring technologies, such as environmental DNA (eDNA) can offer a way forward. eDNA is a new technology that allows organizations to collect and analyze genetic material from environmental samples such as soil, water or air and provide a detailed snapshot of the species present in that specific area.

The beauty of eDNA is that samples can be taken by anyone in the field, removing the need for expensive or highly trained ecologists. Samples are sent back to a lab for rapid processing to provide clear, accurate and, most importantly, accessible insights on the state of biodiversity at site level. It can highlight quickly where and why change needs to happen, unlocking the paralysis we’ve seen in corporate decision-making.

eDNA technology and the data it provides is powerful in many ways. The fundamental difference from other data sources is the ability to obtain site-based data at scale. Other site-level monitoring techniques such as bioacoustics and camera traps play their role in monitoring certain species. But nothing provides the comprehensive level of detail and the ability to monitor at scale like eDNA.

From only a few samples of water taken at careful points along a catchment area, the whole tree of life can be revealed. The accuracy and granularity of this solution means we can use high-integrity data to build trust between stakeholders. It effectively becomes a shared language that is traceable, verifiable and actionable.

Having access to quality data is the first hurdle. However, the value of new data and technologies can only be defined by how companies understand that data and take impactful decisions and actions on the basis of it. Without direction, standardization and alignment, corporate decision-making will be stalled — this is already happening.

Organizations are looking to change, however. A recent report from Accounting for Nature outlines how its framework can standardize the measurement and reporting of biodiversity conditions, aligning with global frameworks to build scientifically robust and scalable metrics. A global solution like this, that could serve businesses with more standardized practices, would enable them to meet reporting obligations whilst also extracting operational value from comparative reporting across their portfolios.

This new level of powerful data can equip companies with the practical insights and tools they need to build long-lasting resilience and sustainability across their supply chains. From early warning of invasive species — a substantial threat to economic prosperity, costing upward of $423 billion annually — to understanding soil health to support crop yields.

But new technologies alone will not solve the vastness of the challenge ahead. Collective and brave action is needed to make lasting change. Robust data can and must sit at the heart of this as an essential cornerstone that can bring multiple stakeholders together.

Equipped with these new tools and insights, we need to embrace a pioneering spirit to deploy them effectively and motivate a new era of collective action. Only then will we turn the tide on crippling biodiversity loss and build a sustainable economic outlook for the future.