Biodiversity
Sustainable, science-based agriculture to support biodiversity
As the world’s population grows, the demand for food will put ever more pressure on our planet. Science is an essential part of the solution to protect and improve biodiversity. Complementing the farmer’s toolbox with bio-pesticides and bio-stimulants will help to maintain farmland productivity as well as protect biodiversity.
Science to help feed the world
Science-based, sustainable agriculture offers a way to increase global food production while still protecting biodiversity.
Plant science innovations like biotech crops, including genome-edited plants and other emerging technologies, give crops higher resistance to pests, diseases, and climate stressors. This allows farmers to grow significantly more food on the same amount of land.
Moreover, bio-stimulants and bio-pesticides promote crop health and resilience naturally, reducing the need for synthetic chemicals and so encouraging thriving ecosystems.
In 2019, 190.4 million hectares of biotech crops were planted by up to 17 million farmers in 29 countries.
“We must harness science to ensure food security for a growing global population while at the same time protecting the Earth’s land and resources. By combining agricultural innovation with responsible farming, we can meet future needs without compromising nature.”
Emily Rees, President & CEO CropLife International
Innovating to protect nature
Managing and restoring ecosystems is vital to conserving biodiversity. Agricultural innovations can combine with trusted traditional methods to improve farming while protecting nature.
Digital technologies such as precision agriculture use real-time data to help farmers optimize inputs like water and nutrients, minimizing waste and supporting biodiversity in and around farmlands.
Proven techniques like cover cropping and no-till farming help restore degraded lands, improve productivity, enhance soil health and sequester carbon. These practices also reduce soil erosion, creating a balanced approach to conservation and farming.
%
In 2022, precision agriculture hardware was used most in North America (28%), followed closely by South America (27%), Europe (21%) and Asia (4%), with a 18% global adoption.
Source: McKinsey & Company
“The future of agriculture depends on harnessing innovation, data, and digital technologies to create sustainable, resilient food systems that meet global needs while preserving our natural resources.”
John McMurdy, Vice President, Biotechnology and Seed Innovations, CropLife International
Growing more on less land
With science and data-driven agriculture, we can increase crop productivity on the same amount of land while using fewer resources. The result is better nature preservation as well as better food security.
Investing in plant science innovations and supporting farmers’ access to these tools helps us grow food more sustainably by making more efficient use of existing farmland. This also allows us to protect forests and grasslands, preserve habitats and strengthen natural ecosystems.
%
10% more land would be needed to produce current food volumes without farming innovation and crop inputs.
Source: CropLife