Ecosystem Processes: Biodiversity

Over 60% of the modern diet is now derived from three crops: wheat, rice and maize¹. With over 10,000 varieties of edible plant worldwide and 150 currently used as human food, the risks to food security of producing most of our calories from just three plants is significant². Plant diversity is important as it creates diversity in root exudates, and a greater variety of food substrates leads to increased diversity of soil biota. On regenerative farms, biodiversity is increased through a number of practices. The restriction or absence of fungicides, weedicides and insecticides also promotes diversity. The increase in biodiversity, and decrease in agrochemicals, can also benefit our health.

There are similarities between the soil microbiome and the human microbiome, however, in our modern urban life, where we have less exposure to soil, increased exposure to modern agricultural chemicals, more processed foods, reduced diversity of foods, and less fibre intake, the human microbiome is less diverse³. It’s also important to realise agricultural biodiversity works at different scales.

Regenerative farming is focused on building farming enterprises that are resilient and are not single point sensitive like monoculture crops. This means that farming systems that lack biodiversity are more vulnerable to collapse if their point of weakness fails (for instance, one pest or one adverse weather event in a monoculture can wipe out the entire crop). Biodiversity of plant species avoids vulnerability to collapse by creating farm ecosystems that can adapt to varying weather conditions and changing climates. For crop production, biodiversity provides better pest- predator relationships, and for livestock it provides a highly varied diet. On farm biodiversity increases also open the door for biodiversity credits.

In addition to enhancing resilience and adaptability, regenerative farming practices contribute significantly to soil health and ecosystem restoration. Diverse cropping systems and integrated livestock management improve soil structure, increase organic matter, and enhance nutrient cycling. Practices such as cover cropping, crop rotation, and agroforestry are fundamental to regenerative agriculture, as they prevent soil erosion, suppress weeds, and enhance water infiltration and retention. By maintaining a permanent soil cover and reducing soil disturbance, these methods promote the proliferation of beneficial soil microorganisms, leading to a more fertile and resilient soil ecosystem.