Anali Bustos: "The current state of our planet is a direct consequence of our mindset…”

Analí Bustos is an Argentine scientist who combines her scientific expertise with a hands-on approach across various fields to advance ecosystem restoration and community engagement in climate action. As the coordinator of the Monte Alegre Foundation, she integrates scientific knowledge with community involvement and engages diverse stakeholders to foster a shared sense of stewardship for the land. As a Ph.D. candidate in agricultural sciences, her research focuses on finding innovative solutions that balance agricultural productivity with ecological integrity.

As the biodiversity lead at Nativas Climatech, she explores science-based financial mechanisms to support large-scale biodiversity regeneration in farming environments, aiming for a future where both nature and agriculture coexist in harmony. Her vision is not only to contribute to ecosystem restoration but also to create pathways for people, especially women, to enter and thrive in this field, expanding opportunities and fostering empowerment.

PG: Will you please talk about your doctoral specialisation?

AB: My doctoral thesis, developed at the University of Buenos Aires, is titled "Foundations and Strategies to Promote Pollinator Diversity in Agroecosystems." It proposes manipulative experiments at the community scale, combined with landscape analysis, to generate evidence supporting management recommendations for creating pollinator habitats within productive areas. These recommendations could be adopted and implemented by key actors such as farmers, technical advisors, scientists, and government managers, with the aim of promoting regenerative practices that are compatible with production.

Globally, pollinators are facing a worrying crisis due to a combination of factors such as habitat loss, intensive pesticide use, climate change, and the expansion of industrial agriculture. Given the numerous benefits generated by the ecosystem service of pollination, both ecological and economic, urgent action is needed to promote sustainable agricultural practices, restore natural habitats, and reduce the use of harmful chemicals to protect these essential actors in the ecosystem.

PG: What is your current project and how will it help the family farms?

AB: These evidence-based recommendations could be of great help to rural communities or agricultural producers who need clear and pragmatic information on how to maximize the benefits of biodiversity in their productive fields. If they can be actively engaged in these practices, considered regenerative, I believe it will be possible to achieve a sustainable productive transition, instead of the current ones that only harm and weaken the planet’s overall health.

“There is a vast body of knowledge linking the global rise of patriarchy and Western philosophical and scientific thinking with the reductionism, commodification, and objectification of nature.”

PG: Do you believe patriarchal forms of agriculture come in the way of biodiversity well-being?

AB: Absolutely, yes. There is a vast body of knowledge linking the global rise of patriarchy and Western philosophical and scientific thinking with the reductionism, commodification, and objectification of nature. Throughout history, various thinkers have emerged with these ideas, which are deeply rooted in our actions to this day.

This is evident, for example, in the work of Francis Bacon, particularly in his book The Masculine Birth of Time, where he speaks of how nature must be made the "slave" of man. He discusses exploitation and interrogating nature through reductive experiments, stating that “by the hand of man she is forced out of her natural state, and queried and molded,” allowing us “to penetrate further” beyond “the outer courts of nature.” He also claimed that once nature is known, it may be mastered, managed, and used in the service of human life, suggesting that the object of knowledge is the control of nature. In this view, nature itself has no purpose (Bacon, 1620).

PG: Can higher participation by women lead to healthier biodiversity?

AB: Yes, higher participation by women can significantly lead to better health of biodiversity. Women often play crucial roles in managing natural resources, particularly in rural and agricultural communities. Our involvement can bring diverse perspectives and knowledge that are essential for sustainable practices. When women are empowered and included in decision-making processes, it fosters the adoption of more regenerative agricultural practices and conservation efforts. This not only enhances biodiversity but also promotes the well-being of ecosystems and communities.

“When women are empowered and included in decision-making processes, it fosters the adoption of more regenerative agricultural practices and conservation efforts.”

PG: Are you happy with the current state of pollinators?

AB: The current situation of pollinators is truly worrying. I believe the world has yet to realize how essential these creatures are for our planet to continue supporting humans and all other forms of life that inhabit it. I hope to contribute to changing this soon.

PG: How important is nature education for children?

AB: I believe that nature education is essential and has immense transformative power for the future of our planet. For children, it fosters a profound connection to the environment, raises awareness of ecological issues, and encourages sustainable practices from an early age. It also promotes physical and mental health by offering opportunities for outdoor activities, enhances critical thinking and problem-solving skills through hands-on exploration, and develops social skills through collaborative experiences.

At the Monte Alegre Foundation, one of my projects focuses on engaging with schools. Throughout the year, children learn about the native forests in their region, and in the spring, they visit a nature reserve to participate in outdoor activities that promote connection with nature. These journeys are both enriching and deeply transformative for everyone involved; I firmly believe that there is no better way to learn and reshape our perceptions than through direct experience.

PG: Your vision for a sustainable planet?

AB: I believe that the current state of our planet is a direct consequence of our mindset and the complete blindness that humans have. From my perspective, this is humanity’s greatest "trauma": we do not realize that we are nature and that our lives depend 100% on it. If our planet is healthy, we are healthy and prosperous as well. For this reason, I aim to continue working on initiatives and projects that unleash natural intelligence, that make the web of life that sustains us flourish, that strengthen a regenerative culture, and that guide us toward deeper, more conscious, equitable, and sustainable ways of living.

PG: Any particular expectations from COP16?

AB: Honestly, I’m very excited to attend this COP in person, mainly for two reasons. On both a personal and professional level, I know that this event brings together many people, organizations, and institutions that are the driving forces needed to restore nature, so I’m ready to listen and learn from them. In terms of the conference as a multilateral environmental policy event under the United Nations, there are high expectations because this COP will define the mechanisms to finance and monitor biodiversity action plans, both globally and nationally. For this reason, each country is required to present its National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs).

I hope that by the end of the conference, we will have a clear vision of that joint action plan. According to climate scientist Johan Rockström, we have less than 10 years to reverse and restore key balances for our planet, so I hope this event will be the pivotal moment we’ve been waiting for.

PG: Many thanks, Anali, for these excellent insights. My best wishes for your participation at COP16 in Colombia.