The role of agroecosystems diversity towards sustainability of agricultural systems

Abstract

One of the major challenges of this millennium is ensuring food security in times of climate change, increasing population, environmental needs, economic and energy crisis. These challenges can be addressed by ensuring the sustainability of agricultural production systems and the necessary agroecosystems diversity in the form of integration and proper combination of crops, trees, animals, soil and water (Elkington and Hailes, 1988, Shiva, 1992). This study aims to review the existing scientific knowledge about agroecosystems diversity, agroecology, traditional and alternative farming systems based on permaculture and biodynamical principles. It is based on literature review, whereby analysis and synthesis as scientific methods are used to: 1) discuss and summarize current findings on the role of agroecosystems diversity on the sustainability of agriculture; 2) evaluate the state of the art pointing out research needs for mainstreaming and scaling up agroecological approaches; 3) conclude on the future developments and certain actions needed at local, national and European levels to adapt agricultural practices towards sustainability of agricultural systems. Our findings reveal that the adoption of the principles of diversification of crops, trees and animals increases both the resilience of farms to climate change and environmental pressures, and improves their economic results via low-input decisions and stability in yields. At the same time, promoting and mainstreaming agroecosystems diversity across farms and regions in Europe requires targeted and simultaneous actions at the local, national and European levels both in terms of institutional and policy support and development of markets.