One third of our land mass is occupied through farming activities and are directly/ indirectly involved with the endangerment of 62% of threatened species through highly mechanized, external chemicals etc.
It has been urged through research derived from research undertaken by the university of Gottingen suggests a transition from modern farming practicesvia the 2020 Global biodiversity Framework will significantly reduce environmental degradation meanwhile achieving sustainable food systems for our ever-growing population.
Heavy fertilizer use has demonstrated to have negative implications on nutrient recycling processes due to a loss of mychorhizal associations between fungi and their host plant. Due to a high influx of bioavailable nitrogen and phosphorus the plant no longer sees a need to carry on the symbiotic relationship as it will lose more than it would gain in that current situation. Fertilizers will subsequently cause the soil to lose it's fertility over the long run and these associations are gone they will never return.
The mychorhizal fungi resides in the plant's root tissue. The plant provides the fungi with a constant supply of carbohydrates such as sucrose and glucose while in return the fungi will convert the abundant nitrogen into nitrate which is usable by plants.
Agroecology is a scientific approach where research is performed prior to the management involving the holistic study of these agri-ecosystems that aims to improve the resillience and sustainability for food systems
This practice creates a positive interaction between the agricultural ecosystems and the elements whilst improving soil biodiversity which are vital for primary production and so will have positive effects along the top of the food chain and will improve crop yield.
Improved soil biodiversity has profoundly beneficial effects on the efficiency of farming, where for example improved soil biodiversity has been shown to improve plant's resilience to diseases, climate change, water and nutrient uptake.
Dr Thomas Cherico Wanger from Westlake University China and University
of Göttingen and first author discussed how "The importance of agroecology to change agriculture and protect
biodiversity has been recognized by many top level organizations, in the
scientific community, and by practitioners, which is also reflected in
the number and affiliations of signatories of our Correspondence.
Following our positive discussions with representatives of the COP15, I
hope that this correspondence can help to stimulate discussions in the
policy arena and make a real impact on agricultural production systems."
EurekAlert!. 2020. Changes In Farming Urgent To Rescue Biodiversity. [online] Available at: <https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-07/uog-cif072020.php> [Accessed 3 September 2020].
Delvaux, F., 2018. [online] Trocaire.org. Available at: <https://www.trocaire.org/sites/default/files/resources/policy/principles_of_agroecology.pdf> [Accessed 3 September 2020].
