Agroecosystem biodiversity

Agricultural ecosystems or agroecosystems are those "ecosystems that are used for agriculture" in similar ways, with similar components, similar interactions and functions. Agroecosystems comprise polycultures, monocultures, and mixed systems, including crop-livestock systems, agroforestry, agro-silvo-pastoral systems, aquaculture as well as rangelands, pastures and fallow lands. They are found all over the world from wetlands and lowlands to drylands and mountains and their interactions with human activities, including socio-economic activities and sociocultural diversity, are determinant.

Biodiveristy provides the raw materials, the combinations of genes, which produce the plant varieties and animal breeds upon which agriculture depends. Thousands of different and genetically unique varieties of crops and breeds owe their existence to 3 000 million years of natural biological evolution and to careful selection and nurturing by our farming and herding ancestors during 12 000 or so years of agriculture.

Whether they are used in traditional farming systems, conventional or modern breeding or genetic engineering, the genetic resources of plants and animals are a global asset of inestimable value to humankind. As genetic diversity erodes, our capacity to maintain and enhance crop, forest and livestock productivity decreases along with the ability to respond to changing conditions. Genetic resources hold the key to increasing food security and improving the human condition.

FAO and agroecosystem biodiversity

FAO implements several biological diversity-related activities of relevance to food and agriculture. These include:

• the promotion of ecosystem approaches for sustainable management of production systems, i.e. by examining the inter-relationship between socio-economic and biophysical factors and biological diversity to resolve inter-sectoral problems; this work includes case studies and the development of practical tools and methodologies;
• the implementation of joint programmes with a range of partner organisations to promote the sustainable use and the conservation of biological diversity in ecosystems, also assisting countries in meeting their obligations under various international instruments, strategies and agreements;
• the improved awareness of the importance and value of biological diversity for food and agriculture, among all stakeholders including policy makers, consumers and the public, through inter alia specific awareness documents, tailored materials for different fora (i.e. video, articles, participation in regional and international fora and events, and support to networks).