Speaker
Description
Agrobiodiversity, as both the spontaneous and the deliberately introduced biodiversity found in cultivated fields, fosters a number of ecological services (Rafflegeau et al., 2023). The understanding of the linkages between agrobiodiversity and these services is a driver of agricultural management strategies. The agroecosystems can be designed through biodiversification in space and time, and managed in order to promote desired agrobiodiversity traits connected to ecological services. We offer an analytical framework for research based on agrobiodiversity, that relies on the Characterization- Assessment-Design triad (Figure 1). We illustrate it by recent research work conducted by the ABSys research unit (INRAE, Institut Agro, CIRAD), whose scientific project is built on the mobilization of biodiversity for the agroecological transition.
Characterization
Agrobiodiversity encompasses the variety of agroecosystems and of plants, animals, fungi and microorganisms. Its characterization involves mobilizing a wide range of scientific disciplines such as genetics, phylogeny and the correlated disciplines (entomology, ornithology, etc.), ecology and agronomy. Several tools and metrics are used by agronomists for describing agrobiodiversity: among the most classical, i) the taxonomic approach to estimate the diversity of species based on biology expertise; ii) the functional one relying on the measurement of functional traits among the species (Violle et al., 2007), iii) the AgroBioDiversity Indexes recommended by FAO (FAO, 2004). These latter aim at enabling policymakers, non-governmental organizations, civil society leaders and businesses to understand relationships between dimensions of agrobiodiversity across the food system, compare agrobiodiversity across countries, and identify priority interventions to enhance agrobiodiversity for more sustainable food systems (Jones et al., 2021). The challenge of describing and quantifying biodiversity in highly biodiverse fields requires developing or adapting sampling strategies to account for various compartments in space (e.g., crop, grass strip, hedgerow) and time (e.g., intra-annual variation of population densities). Depending on the researchs focus, a compromise between high-resolution monitoring in small fields (e.g., agroforestry apple orchard) and low-resolution monitoring in large-scale field networks (e.g., national scale pest monitoring) is necessary. Emerging sensor technologies, such as sound and image collection, offer opportunities to enhance biodiversity monitoring across different production systems.
Assessment
The impact of diversification strategies is generally reported in literature through the comparison of different types of systems (e.g. diversified vs non-diversified or gradient of diversity) instead of analysing changes in a given system over time (De Beenhouwer et al. 2013). The assessment of agrobiodiversity involves its evaluating spatial and temporal dynamics as well as functional roles within agricultural ecosystems. In ABSys team, recent work has evaluated the effects of associated crops on cocoa productivity in complex cocoa-based agroforestry systems (Notaro et al., 2021). The study showed that cocoa productivity increased with nearby Fabaceae and to a lesser extent with timber trees. However, other species, such as food-producing trees, decreased cocoa productivity, though this effect diminished with distance.
Design
Designing agrobiodiversity-enhanced systems requires a multidisciplinary approach, integrating social sciences, agronomy and ecology concepts, as well as technology. Incorporating indigenous knowledge aids in using locally adapted varieties and sustainable management techniques (Notaro et al., 2022, 2021). Engaging stakeholders, such as farmers, local communities (Labeyrie et al (2021)), scientists, and policymakers, from the start is crucial for transitioning to agroecology. Incorporating local knowledge, preferences, and socio-economic considerations ensures the feasibility and acceptance of innovative agricultural systems. Finally the explicit integration of monitoring, adaptation, and tactical management is essential to ensure their sustainability. This involves evaluating the performance of agrobiodiverse systems over time and employing adaptive management strategies to address changing environmental conditions, market dynamics, and socio-economic factors, thereby ensuring the resilience and sustainability of agricultural production. Emerging technologies such as connected water probes, in-field cameras and images from drones and automated monitoring systems, offer valuable tools for effectively monitoring and managing complex agrobiodiversified systems (Bellon Maurel et al., 2022).
Agrobiodiversity offers perspectives to address agricultural challenges by promoting sustainability and resilience of agricultural systems, as well as provisioning multiple ecosystem services. By characterizing, assessing, and designing cropping systems that prioritize agrobiodiversity, we can build resilient landscapes capable of feeding a growing population while safeguarding resources. This framework clarifies the scale and the methods used, and might also be relevant to identify potential knowledge or methodological gaps at the interface of the three axes.
| Keywords | agroecological transition; research framework; stakeholders; methodology |
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