More diverse but less intensive farming enhances biodiversity

Stein-Bachinger, Karin; Preißel, Sara; Kühne, Stefan; Reckling, Moritz

doi:10.1016/j.tree.2022.01.008

Cited by 22 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…This scientific literature can provide insights on how to re-design heavily intensified agricultural systems and landscapes toward biodiversity-friendly agriculture (e.g. Stein-Bachinger et al 2022) notably in the world's top agricultural producers and exporters where most of the data originates (i.e. USA, Brazil, China, Canada and France).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Global review of meta-analyses reveals key data gaps in agricultural impact studies on biodiversity in croplands

Bonfanti,

Langridge,

Avadí

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Aim: Agriculture depends heavily on biodiversity, yet unsustainable management practices continue to affect a wide range of organisms and ecosystems at unprecedented levels worldwide. Addressing the global challenge of biodiversity loss requires access to consolidated knowledge across management practices, spatial levels, and taxonomic groups. Location: Global Time period: 1994 to 2022 Major taxa studied: Animals, microorganisms, plants. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive literature review synthesising data from all meta-analyses about the impacts of agricultural management practices on biodiversity in croplands, covering field, farm, and landscape levels. From 200 retained meta-analyses, we extracted 1,885 mean effect sizes (from 69,850 comparisons between a control and treatment) assessing the impact of management practices on biodiversity, alongside characterising over 9,000 primary papers. Results: Seven high-income countries, notably the USA, China, and Brazil dominate agricultural impact studies with fertiliser use, phytosanitary interventions and crop diversification receiving widespread attention. The focus on individual practices overshadows research at the farm and landscape level. Taxonomically, Animalia, especially arthropods, are heavily studied while taxa such as annelids and plants receive comparatively less attention. Effect sizes are predominantly calculated from averaged abundance data. Significant gaps persist in terms of studies on the effects of agricultural interventions on specific taxonomic groups (e.g. annelids, mammals) and studies analysing functional traits. Main conclusions: Our study highlights the importance of analysing the effects of combined practices to accurately reflect real-world farming contexts. While abundance metrics are common, reflecting several biodiversity facets and adopting a more balanced research approach across taxa are crucial for understanding biodiversity responses to agricultural changes and informing conservation strategies. Given the unbalanced evidence on impacts of agricultural practices on biodiversity, caution is required when utilising meta-analytical findings for informing public policies or integrating them into global assessment models like life-cycle assessments or global flux models.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Global review of meta-analyses reveals key data gaps in agricultural impact studies on biodiversity in croplands

Bonfanti,

Langridge,

Avadí

et al. 2024

Preprint

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“…Existing knowledge on how the integration of legumes in rotations effects biodiversity is limited, but it indicates that legume crops have the potential to positively impact wild arable flora, insects, and vertebrates (Böhm et al 2020) as well as supporting below ground biodiversity that was not assessed here. More detailed analyses of the effects of legumes on biodiversity are needed to identify their potential, possibly in combination with other measures such as reducing pesticide applications or promoting seminatural habitats, to reduce steady decline in biodiversity (Stein-Bachinger et al 2022).…”

Section: Environmental Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transition to legume-supported farming in Europe through redesigning cropping systems

Notz

Topp

Schuler

et al. 2023

Agron. Sustain. Dev.

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Legume-supported cropping systems affect environmental, production, and economic impacts. In Europe, legume production is still marginal with grain legumes covering less than 3% of arable land. A transition towards legume-supported systems could contribute to a higher level of protein self-sufficiency and lower environmental impacts of agriculture. Suitable approaches for designing legume-supported cropping systems are required that go beyond the production of prescriptive solutions. We applied the DEED framework with scientists and advisors in 17 study areas in nine European countries, enabling us to describe, explain, explore, and redesign cropping systems. The results of 31 rotation comparisons showed that legume integration decreased N fertilizer use and nitrous oxide emissions (N2O) in more than 90% of the comparisons with reductions ranging from 6 to 142 kg N ha−1 and from 1 to 6 kg N2O ha−1, respectively. In over 75% of the 24 arable cropping system comparisons, rotations with legumes had lower nitrate leaching and higher protein yield per hectare. The assessment of above-ground biodiversity showed no considerable difference between crop rotations with and without legumes in most comparisons. Energy yields were lower in legume-supported systems in more than 90% of all comparisons. Feasibility and adaptation needs of legume systems were discussed in joint workshops and economic criteria were highlighted as particularly important, reflecting findings from the rotation comparisons in which 63% of the arable systems with legumes had lower standard gross margins. The DEED framework enabled us to keep close contact with the engaged research-farmer networks. Here, we demonstrate that redesigning legume-supported cropping systems through a process of close stakeholder interactions provides benefits compared to traditional methods and that a large-scale application in diverse study areas is feasible and needed to support the transition to legume-supported farming in Europe.

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“…and their consequences on human health are now widely recognized. This indicates the strong need for a paradigm shift towards ecological intensification (Kleijn et al, 2019) and more diverse systems (Stein-Bachinger et al, 2022). Crop diversification with a high level of agrobiodiversity in cropping systems is seen as an essential pillar of agroecological transition, based on growing evidence of improved productive and environmental performance and resilience of cropping and farming systems.…”

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confidence: 99%