Leverage point identification and implementation in biodiversity relevant value chains

Global biodiversity decline is significantly driven by unsustainable value chains across multiple 
economic sectors. The EU Horizon project BIOTRAILS developed and tested a framework for the 
identification of pathways towards transformative change in biodiversity-relevant value chains. 
This report focuses on describing the methodologies applied and summarises the findings from 
the project. The framework combines the Leverage Points Framework with the Attitudes
Facilitators-Infrastructure (AFI) Framework through a three-stage participatory methodology, 
integrating systematic literature reviews with stakeholder engagement. Applied to four diverse 
value chains – cocoa production in Peru, forest-based cultural products in Brazil, fisheries and 
aquaculture in Greece, and artisanal small-scale gold mining in Ghana – the methodology 
demonstrates that strategic intervention points can be systematically identified and 
contextualised when the framework is adapted to local environmental, social, economic, and 
institutional conditions. Despite differences in sectors, geographies, and sustainability challenges, 
the consistent methodological approach enabled the identification of both common patterns and 
context-specific leverage points across all case studies.  
This report provides practical guidance, tools, and lessons learned for practitioners, policymakers, 
and researchers seeking to apply the framework to other value chains, demonstrating that the 
methodology is effective when tailored to the specific contexts.