Biodiverse farming and business

Over the past century, small-scale, varied land use has increasingly given way to large-scale monocultures. In such uniform systems, disease, pests and soil depletion increase, making farmers dependent on synthetic fertilisers and pesticides. This creates a vicious circle of declining biodiversity and rising environmental pressure. The shift to more diverse and nature-inclusive farming systems is therefore necessary—not only for nature and climate, but also for food security.

There are various ways to strengthen biodiversity on and around farms. Examples include strip cropping, using gene banks to enhance crop diversity, flowering field margins and adapted grassland management. Such measures often require changes along the supply chain, for example in harvesting and processing mixed crops. On dairy farms, species-rich and herb-rich grasslands increase the diversity of plants, insects, meadow birds and soil life.

By developing new forms of nature-inclusive arable and livestock farming, plant and animal supply chains can be smartly linked so that resources are used optimally and losses are reduced. Work is also needed to improve water quality in agricultural areas and to protect soil biodiversity and meadow birds.

Beyond techniques, business models matter too. Farmers who enhance biodiversity should be rewarded for it. Instruments such as the Dutch Biodiversity Monitor make performance measurable and provide a basis for financial recognition. This creates a farming system that is economically viable and contributes to biodiversity recovery.