Biodiversity 
in agriculture

Many key practices have their roots with indigenous farmers who work with the land rather than against it. Intercropping systems, such as soybean and wheat combinations, keep plants in the ground year-round while continuous ground cover enhances soil and reduces the need for weed control products. Conservation agriculture demonstrates how diverse crop rotations, including spring crops alongside traditional winter varieties, can deliver significant economic benefits while providing substantial enhancement of key environmental and ecological measures.

Keeping land covered with canopies of hedgerows, trees and cover crops is not only important for wildlife and pollinators but also helps farmers reduce the erosive impact that direct rainfall can have on soil. Farmers can protect biodiversity and natural habitats by sustainably increasing productivity on their existing farmland, which reduces pressure for agricultural expansion into natural areas. Since 75 percent of leading global food crops depend on pollinators such as bees and insects, habitat creation is essential for maintaining agricultural resilience.

IPM techniques use a variety of methods, including encouraging biodiversity in hedgerows and flower plantations to attract species that prey on or deter pests. Sustainable pest management approaches function through preventative modes that reduce the need for more aggressive interventions, protecting crops while preserving biodiversity by allowing non-target species to thrive and supporting more balanced ecosystems. Where chemical interventions are required, applications are kept to a minimum and made on a case-by-case basis.

Low-till agriculture, also known as conservation-till or reduced-tillage, involves leaving at least 30 percent of crop residue on the soil surface, which greatly reduces soil erosion, keeps carbon locked in the ground, and retains more microorganisms that build healthier soil. Research shows that reduced non-inversion tillage, combined with cover crops, provides clear enhancement in key measures for soil health, carbon reduction and wider farm biodiversity.

Modern biodiversity conservation leverages breakthrough monitoring technology, including low-cost, solar-powered sensors using machine-learning algorithms to identify and quantify insect species automatically, autonomously, reliably and at scale. Crop-monitoring drones fly over fields to detect areas under pressure from weeds, disease or insects, enabling farmers to precisely apply biological and chemical inputs using no more and no less than required. High resolution remote sensing powered by AI models and algorithms can map and classify habitats, as well as assess landscape connectivity supporting the planning of new habitat implementation.

Large-scale restoration initiatives work to restore degraded pasturelands and optimize production on existing farm property, demonstrating how millions of hectares of degraded soil can be recovered and turned into productive areas. This approach provides increased production while reducing conversion and biodiversity loss, representing a win-win for agriculture and conservation.

Investment in research helps understand how beneficial practices can be applied efficiently in local settings, developing products that maximize soil health, yields, and carbon capture. Biostimulants  play an important role by targeting plant physiology, stabilizing cells and strengthening roots while improving carbon sequestering capacity, nutrient uptake, and overall resilience to climate effects such as heat and drought.

These integrated methods demonstrate that regenerative agriculture can deliver high productivity and high-quality food while helping fight climate change and restore lost biodiversity, supporting the transformation toward more sustainable and resilient agricultural systems worldwide.

An additional challenge in biodiversity conservation is the lack of high-quality data, standards, or technologies to efficiently measure the status and trajectory of in-situ biodiversity and assess the impact of chosen conservation activities. Traditional monitoring has been fragmented, labor-intensive, and inconsistent, creating significant gaps in understanding how agricultural practices affect local ecosystems.

The agricultural sector is responding through innovative technologies. Advanced biodiversity sensors use machine-learning algorithms to automatically identify and quantify species at scale, while environmental DNA sampling can detect multiple species from soil or water samples without direct observation. Crop-monitoring drones equipped with sophisticated imaging can track biodiversity hotspots and habitat quality changes across farm landscapes. Habitat mapping and landscape connectivity analysis using high resolution remote sensing powered by AI deep learning can support habitat restoration planning.

While direct measurement remains challenging, biodiversity is greatest in natural habitats. Therefore, any efforts to limit agricultural activity to existing farmland - by increasing yields or restoring degraded farmland through measures that improve soil quality - inherently protects biodiversity by reducing pressure for agricultural expansion into pristine ecosystems.

This approach creates measurable outcomes through reduced deforestation rates, improved soil health indicators, and enhanced ecosystem services, providing valuable biodiversity insights even when direct species monitoring is limited. Success requires combining direct monitoring technologies with these indirect indicators to create comprehensive assessment systems that demonstrate real progress toward protecting the complex web of life supporting sustainable agriculture.

MFFM research demonstrates that biodiversity enhancement increases pollinator populations and beneficial insects, directly improving crop yield and quality. Farmers implementing biodiversity practices report higher yields compared to conventional farms. Natural pest control from beneficial insects can provide five to 10 times more effective pest management than chemical approaches alone, reducing input costs while maintaining productivity.

Biodiversity conservation through flower  margins and cover crops significantly improves soil structure, fertility, and biological activity. These practices increase earthworm populations essential for nutrient cycling, enhance water retention, and reduce soil erosion. This prevents costly topsoil and nutrient loss while reducing the need for soil amendments over time.

Vegetated margins help control flooding by increasing water retention capacity and filtering pollutants from runoff. This reduces operational risks from water damage and helps farmers comply with environmental regulations while protecting downstream agricultural areas.

The MFFM study quantifies substantial monetary benefits from biodiversity measures. Field margins with diverse plantings generate about $1,600 per hectare annually, while tree-based margins provide $1,200 per hectare annually. Enhanced connectivity systems can deliver up to $4,100 per hectare annually. These returns come from ecosystem services including pollination, water management, carbon sequestration, and erosion prevention.

Biodiversity-friendly practices can deliver up to 18 percent improvement in net profits through reduced input costs and stable yields. Farmers could gain access to premium markets, sustainability certifications, and government incentive programs. Additionally, biodiverse systems show greater resilience to climate variability, providing more predictable yields and reduced operational risks.