In Farmers' Fields: Biodiversity and Agriculture

Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2013, Ruth Raymond and Amanda Dobson, Bioversity International,   "The Youth Guide to Biodiversity" 1st Edition (Chapter 9) Youth and United Nations Global Alliance. Reproduced with permission.

Chapter 9. Verbatim.

Bugs on a sunflower in the USA .

© Alex Sorensen (age 14)

 

Like water and air, agricultural biodiversity is a basic resource that we literally could not live without. But the importance of agricultural biodiversity is not well understood and so it is not properly valued. The result is that agricultural biodiversity is under threat both in the wild and in farmers’ fields. This is a threat we cannot afford.

What Is Agricultural Biodiversity?

Agricultural biodiversity includes the different ecosystems, species and genetic variability that contribute to food production. Some components of agricultural biodiversity, such as livestock breeds and crop varieties, are actively managed by farmers and scientists. Others, such as soil microbes and many pollinators, provide valuable services without being actively managed. 

The variation within plant and animal species enables them to evolve and adapt to different environmental conditions. Farmers and professional breeders depend heavily on agricultural biodiversity, which allows them to develop plant varieties and livestock breeds that can resist pests and diseases, can adjust to changing climates, and have higher nutritional value.