Why diversity matters

Agricultural biodiversity is a resource without which humanity could not survive for long. Yet most people tend to take it for granted. As a result, it is disappearing fast and, unless the trend is reversed, the consequences will be grave.

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

Agricultural biodiversity has the potential to deliver a stunning array of benefits.

• Improvement of agricultural productivity without costly inputs.
• Significant improvement in human nutrition through dietary diversity.
• Celebration and pride in traditional, native and national foods.
• Stable yields from year to year in diversified production systems.
• Diverse farming systems that have the best hope of adapting to climate change.

More about agricultural biodiversity

Fast facts about agricultural biodiversity
Download PDF

Further reading
Archeologia Arborea www.archeologiaarborea.org/
Agricultural Biodiversity Weblog agro.biodiver.se/
Bioversity International www.bioversityinternational.org/
FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture www.fao.org/nr/cgrfa/
Global Crop Diversity Trust www.croptrust.org/main/
Peliti www.peliti.gr
Slow Food: www.slowfood.com
Vaviblog: www.vaviblog.com/