What is one of the primary reasons for promoting biodiversity in agricultural systems?

Promoting biodiversity in agricultural systems is primarily aimed at enhancing ecosystem resilience. Biodiversity refers to the variety of life forms within a given ecosystem, including different species of plants, animals, and microorganisms. When agricultural systems embrace a wide range of species, they contribute to the stability and adaptability of the ecosystem as a whole.

Enhanced ecosystem resilience means that the agricultural system can better withstand and recover from various stressors, such as pests, diseases, and climate fluctuations. A diverse ecosystem typically has a greater range of beneficial interactions among species, which can lead to improved nutrient cycling, pest regulation, and overall productivity without the heavy reliance on chemical inputs. In a biodiverse setting, if one crop or species is affected by a disease or pest, other species may continue to thrive, ensuring food production stability.

In contrast, minimizing crop rotation and standardizing farming practices can lead to reduced biodiversity and therefore lower resilience, while increasing dependence on chemical fertilizers often disrupts natural soil health and ecosystems. Therefore, fostering biodiversity is fundamentally about creating a more robust agricultural system capable of facing various challenges over the long term.