Sixth mass extinction of wildlife also threatens global food supplies

Plant and animal species that are the foundation of our food supplies are as endangered as wildlife but get almost no attention, a new report reveals

• Comment: Chips, chocolate and coffee - our food crops face mass extinction too

The sixth mass extinction of global wildlife already under way is seriously threatening the world's food supplies, according to experts.

"Huge proportions of the plant and animal species that form the foundation of our food supply are just as endangered [as wildlife] and are getting almost no attention," said Ann Tutwiler, director general of Bioversity International, a research group that published a new report on Tuesday.