What does Agrodiversity Mean?

The Digopaul, in its dictionary, does not include mentions of the term agrodiversity. This concept, however, is often used with reference to agricultural biodiversity.

It should be noted that biodiversity refers to the plurality of plant and animal species in the environment. The agricultural, on the other hand, is that linked to agriculture (the techniques and processes that allow tilling and cultivating a land).

The notion of agro-diversity, in this way, refers to the variety of crops. According to some specialists, the idea is related to the very origins of agriculture, when the prehistoric human being began to become sedentary and sought to diversify the food that he cultivated and collected.

Thanks to the rotating or itinerant cultivation systems, the development of agro-diversity in a region is possible. Industrial agriculture, however, tends to appeal to monocultures: the mass cultivation of a single species, supported by industrial inputs, to increase productivity and obtain higher profitability.

Agrodiversity, on the other hand, cares for ecology and aims to be sustainable (sustainable). These agroecosystems help maintain genetic diversity and allow for a greater variety of nutrients available in food.

In other words, an industrial monoculture leads to obtaining many tons of the same food, while crops that are committed to agro-diversity offer few amounts of many different foods, giving people a broader nutritional wealth. By extension, agrodiversity offers greater food security.

Much is being said in recent times about agro-diversity and there are many who defend it, as they say, “by the sword”. Specifically, those who support it are because they consider that it brings with it a long list of advantages, among which we can highlight the following:
-It is determined that it contributes to the creation and maintenance of a remarkable ecological balance.
-In the same way, it is indicated that it not only prevents pest problems from arising, but also does its bit for the protection of the soil. Regarding this last aspect, emphasis is placed on emphasizing that it enriches it, notably benefiting the animal and vegetable wealth that is related to it.
-It contributes to a considerable reduction in the use of energy that is not renewable. Hence, it manages to fight against the greenhouse effect and even against global warming in general. An objective is very important if we consider that it affects us all, since it will allow us to live in a cleaner world, with more clean air and less pollution.
-It is a way of protecting and ensuring the so-called biodiversity, which is so fundamental on the planet.
-Also, those who are in favor of agro-diversity go so far as to state that it is a very useful tool for the conservation of nature and the improvement of agricultural production.

Agrodiversity