Dilip Mehta
Agrobiodiversity, or agricultural biodiversity, is the variety and variability of living organisms that are essential for food and agriculture. It includes not only cultivated crops and domesticated livestock but also wild relatives, pollinators, soil microbes, and traditional farming practices. Agrobiodiversity is the foundation of food security, ecosystem stability, and cultural identity. Yet, this invaluable resource is increasingly threatened by human activities and climate change. Conserving agrobiodiversity is therefore a global priority to ensure sustainable agriculture and future food sovereignty.Agrobiodiversity provides the very foundation of food security. It ensures that human beings have access to diverse, nutritious, and safe diets. Beyond food, it plays a vital role in sustaining ecosystems: enriching soils, regulating pests, recycling nutrients, and maintaining pollination services. With the challenges of climate change, population growth, land degradation, and globalization, conserving agricultural biodiversity has become more important than ever. A narrowing genetic base in agriculture—where only a few high-yielding varieties dominate—has made farming systems increasingly vulnerable to pests, diseases, and environmental shocks.
Significance of Agrobiodiversity
1. Ensuring Food Security – Diverse crop species and animal breeds reduce the risk of famine by providing alternatives during pest outbreaks or environmental shocks.
2. Improving Nutrition – A wide variety of foods enrich diets with essential vitamins, proteins, and minerals.
3. Climate Resilience – Genetic diversity within crops and livestock breeds enhances adaptability to drought, salinity, pests, and diseases.
4. Sustaining Ecosystem Services – Soil fertility, nutrient cycling, water regulation, and pollination depend on biodiversity.
5. Cultural and Economic Value – Traditional seeds and farming knowledge form part of cultural heritage and open opportunities for niche, organic, and fair-trade markets.
Major Threats to Agrobiodiversity
u Monoculture Farming – Dependence on a few commercial crops reduces genetic diversity.
u Habitat Loss – Deforestation, urbanization, and infrastructure expansion eliminate habitats of wild relatives of crops and livestock.
u Climate Change – Rising temperatures, shifting rainfall patterns, and extreme weather threaten local varieties and species.
u Overuse of Chemicals – Excessive use of fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides damages soil health and eliminates beneficial organisms.
u Erosion of Indigenous Knowledge – Declining traditional farming practices and seed-saving methods weaken local conservation systems.
Types of Agrobiodiversity Conservation
1. On-Farm (In-situ) Conservation
l Farmers continue to grow traditional crop varieties and rear local breeds in their fields.
l Promotes evolutionary adaptation to changing environments.
l Example: Cultivation of native rice varieties in Nepal’s hilly regions.
2. Ex-situ Conservation
l Genetic material is stored away from natural habitats.
l Includes seed banks, gene banks, cryopreservation, and botanical gardens.
l Example: The Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway.
3. Community-Based Conservation
l Community seed banks, farmers’ cooperatives, and participatory breeding programs safeguard local genetic resources.
- Strengthens seed sovereignty and reduces dependency on multinational seed companies.
4. Ecosystem-Level Conservation
l Protecting agricultural landscapes like wetlands, forests, and agroforestry systems.
l Maintains natural habitats that support wild relatives, pollinators, and soil microbes.
Approaches and Strategies for Conservation
- Policy and Legal Support
- Implementing biodiversity-friendly agricultural policies.
- Recognizing farmers’ rights to save, use, and exchange seeds.
- Strengthening intellectual property protection for indigenous resources.
- Sustainable Farming Practices
- Organic farming, agroforestry, permaculture, and crop rotation.
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and low-input agriculture.
- Research and Technology
- Molecular characterization of genetic diversity.
- Biotechnology for conserving rare and endangered varieties.
- Development of climate-resilient crop varieties.
- Education and Awareness
- Training programs for farmers and youth.
- Community-based awareness campaigns.
- Inclusion of agrobiodiversity in school and university curricula.
- Market Incentives
- Promoting value-added products from traditional varieties.
- Certification schemes for organic and heritage products.
- Linking farmers to niche and international markets.
Case Examples of Agrobiodiversity Conservation
- Nepal – Community seed banks in Terai safeguard indigenous rice and millet varieties.
- India – Navdanya movement promotes seed sovereignty and organic farming.
- Ethiopia – On-farm conservation of teff and sorghum ensures resilience against drought.
- Global – The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources (ITPGRFA) supports equitable sharing of genetic resources.
Conclusion
Agrobiodiversity is not just the foundation of agriculture; it is the foundation of life itself. Conserving it ensures sustainable food systems, enhances resilience to climate change, and protects cultural heritage. Both scientific interventions and traditional practices must go hand in hand to safeguard this resource. Governments, communities, researchers, and farmers all share responsibility in promoting conservation. By valuing diversity, encouraging sustainable practices, and ensuring fair policies, humanity can secure a healthier planet and a food-secure future.
