Enhancing biodiversity on farm

Enhance biodiversity

Agriculture relies on healthy natural ecosystems to produce profitable food, yet we continue to see a decline in priority species.

It is recognised that most of the decline in farmland wildlife is due to habitat loss, so the simple answer is to put them back. However, biodiversity does not have to be in replacement of crop production.

Our approach to increasing biodiversity on farm is twofold:

1. Increase the diversity of species in the crop rotation – more diversity in species can help to support a better diversity of habitats. A broader rotation can also help reduce pest and disease pressure on crops, reducing our reliance on plant protection products.
2. Select the correct land to allocate for supporting biodiversity – allocate our least productive cropping land to biodiversity in the form of wildflowers margins, winter bird food and hedgerows.

To ensure we maintain a balance between food production and biodiversity, identifying the correct areas for biodiversity is an important process.

Biosolutions and Plant Protection Products

Plant Protection Products (PPPs) remain key to yield and quality protection, protecting 20-40% of yield and reducing food waste globally, whilst only making up 1% of the GHG emissions from agriculture. Impacts on non-target organisms have also been reduced over the years through the evolution of newly modified product formulas and adopting best practice guidance for application. However, the availability and efficacy of PPPs is gradually declining, and as more products continue to be removed from the market, the cost of replacing them is increasing. This threat to food security is something we must address by looking at more holistic farming solutions.

Agrii have always supported Integrated Pest Management (IPM), and in 2022, achieved the target of 100% of our trials following IPM principles based on 85% in 2020.