Why agricultural biodiversity matters?
- Agricultural biodiversity is the foundation of agriculture.
- Source of genetic material that is vital for future generation.
- Important for improving crops, promoting their resistance to pests and disease, or adopting to the effects of climate change.
- Agricultural biodiversity can provide a cost-effective way for farmers to manage pests and disease.
- Allows farmers to limit the spread of pests and diseases without investing in high chemical inputs.
- Agrobiodiversity gives farmers options to manage climatic risks.
- Provide smallholder farmers with more crop options and help buffer the effects of extreme events such as droughts or floods.
- Agrobiodiversity can contribute to health and nutrition.
- Allowing diverse diet reduces the risk of heavy reliance on a narrow diversity of food and nutrition security.
- Agrobiodiversity plays role in sustaining soil health, food and habitat for pollinators and natural pests vital to agricultural production.
- Farming techniques based on diversity, such as crop rotation, ensure that the soil has time to regenerate and maintain health over time.