Researchers and practitioners both gain from close collaboration on integrating biodiversity

Mistra BIOPATH aims to disseminate knowledge and innovations that can impact both industry and the financial system to be active parts of the solution to stop and reverse the loss of biodiversity. Close collaboration is a key factor.

Most recently, BIOPATH organised a workshop about the Task Force for Nature-Related Financial Disclosure (TNFD) Framework, with Orkla., an industrial investment company focused on brands and consumer-oriented business.

"One aspect of this project involved fostering enhanced collaboration, which included identifying diverse competencies, delegating tasks, and outlining expected outcomes. The workshop signifies the culmination of a year-long collaborative effort conducted primarily through digital channels, emphasizing the significance of face-to-face interaction for us."says Viktor Elliot, Research Lead (WP2) in Mistra BIOPATH.

Establishing a trusting collaboration, where practitioners are willing to share both successes and challenges related to biodiversity, provides advantages for both the organisations and the researchers.

“Two important things that researchers can bring to the table are (i) deep knowledge of concepts and methods, and (ii) providing a neutral platform where we can experiment collaboratively without fear of making mistakes or saying the wrong things”, explains Viktor Elliot.

It is important to use all possible resources to reduce the overall negative impact on nature and finding pathways for academia and the business community to work even better is an ambition of Mistra BIOPATH:

“In addition to having strong economic interests in protecting nature, as a large part of their products are completely dependent on nature, I find that Orkla take their sustainability work very seriously and really want to understand how they can work more strategically in strengthening this work”, underlines Viktor Elliot.

This was evident in the big commitment to this project, where many persons from Orkla´s complex organisation have been involved.

“Orkla have really invested time and resources in this, which is a clear signal that they consider it important and valuable. It is valuable to all of us as, since in this form of collaboration, there is a lot of knowledge sharing and this knowledge will remain even when the collaboration has formally ended”, concludes Viktor Elliot.

The video is produced by Simon Jack Fredling, Communicator , School of Business, Economics and Law, University of Gothenburg.