agrodiversity

The Royal Spanish Academy (RAE), in its dictionary, does not include mentions of the term agrodiversity. This concept, however, is often used in reference to the agricultural biodiversity.

It should be noted that biodiversity refers to the plurality of plant and animal species in the environment. It agricultural, for its part, is that linked to farming (the techniques and processes that allow to till and cultivate a field).

The notion of agrodiversity, 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 human being Prehistoric began to become sedentary and sought to diversify the food it grew and collected.

Thanks to rotary or itinerant cropping systems, it is possible the development of agrodiversity in a region. Industrial agriculture, however, tends to appeal to monocultures: the massive cultivation of a single species, supported by industrial inputs, to increase the productivity and obtain higher profitability.

Agrodiversity, on the other hand, takes care of ecology and aims to be sustainable (sustainable). These agroecosystems help the genetic diversity are maintained and allow the variety of nutrients available in food to be greater.

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 greater nutritional wealth. By extension, agro-diversity offers greater food safety.

Much is being said in recent times about agrodiversity and there are many who defend it, as they say, “tooth and nail”. Specifically, those who support it is 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 not only does it prevent pest problems from arising but also does its bit to protect the soil. Regarding this last aspect, it is emphasized that it enriches it, notably benefiting the animal and vegetable wealth that is related to it.
-Contributes to a considerable reduction in the use of non-renewable energy. Hence, it manages to fight against the greenhouse effect and even against global warming in general. An objective is very important if we take into account that it affects us all, since it will allow us to live in a cleaner world, with more pure and less polluted air.
-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 agrodiversity come to state that it is a very useful tool for the conservation of nature and the improvement of agricultural production.