Agrobiodiversity and food security: challenges and sustainable solutions

Abstract

Objective: Agricultural biodiversity, also known as agrobiodiversity, encompasses the variety of plants, animals, and microorganisms that are directly or indirectly involved in agriculture. This diversity is the result of millennia of selection, management, and domestication of species, which has allowed societies to adapt to different environmental and cultural conditions. However, in recent decades, the loss of agrobiodiversity, accelerated by industrial agriculture, the expansion of monocultures, and the reduction of varieties, has put global food security at risk. This diversity is crucial to ensuring the resilience of agricultural systems in the face of challenges such as climate change, emerging pests, and the depletion of natural resources. This paper examines the importance of conserving agricultural biodiversity from the perspective of food security. It emphasizes how agrobiodiversity not only contributes to the stability of food production but also improves human diets by diversifying crops and providing essential micronutrients. Design/Methodology/Approach: A search was conducted on the following scientific information platforms: Web of Science database and Google Scholar. A systematic search for publications related to agrobiodiversity systems was carried out in the WoS database and Google Scholar over the last 49 years (1975–2024). Results: Genetic erosion is particularly concerning because genetic diversity is essential for crops to face environmental challenges such as climate change, pests, and diseases. The loss of traditional varieties, which are selected by local farmers to adapt to specific conditions, increases agriculture's vulnerability to external disruptions. These landraces, having been cultivated in genetically diverse mosaics, offer protection against catastrophic losses in the event of crop failures due to extreme conditions or diseases.  Findings/Conclusions: Genetic diversity allows for the development of sustainable solutions to pests and diseases, reducing dependence on pesticides and promoting more environmentally friendly farming practices. However, challenges related to biodiversity conservation persist, making it essential to implement public policies that promote agrobiodiversity and address the socioeconomic issues that limit its adoption.