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Reconciling biodiversity conservation and food security: scientific challenges for a new agriculture

Brussaard, Lijbert, Caron, Patrick, Campbell, Bruce, Lipper, Leslie, Manika, Susan, Rabbinge, Rudy, Babin, Didier and Pulleman, Mirjam (2010). Reconciling biodiversity conservation and food security: scientific challenges for a new agriculture. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability,2(1-2):34-42.

Document type: Journal Article
Citation counts: Altmetric Score Altmetric Score is 9
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IRMA ID 81704288xPUB288
Title Reconciling biodiversity conservation and food security: scientific challenges for a new agriculture
Author Brussaard, Lijbert
Caron, Patrick
Campbell, Bruce
Lipper, Leslie
Manika, Susan
Rabbinge, Rudy
Babin, Didier
Pulleman, Mirjam
Journal Name Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability
Publication Date 2010
Volume Number 2
Issue Number 1-2
ISSN 1877-3435   (check CDU catalogue open catalogue search in new window)
Start Page 34
End Page 42
Total Pages 8
Place of Publication United Kingdom
Publisher Elsevier Ltd. * Current Opinion Journals
HERDC Category C1 - Journal Article (DIISR)
Abstract Production ecology and conservation biology have long focused on providing the knowledge base for intensive food production and biodiversity conservation, respectively. With increasing global food insecurity and continuing biodiversity decline, we show that the largely separate development of these fields is counterproductive. Scenario analyses suggest that feeding the world is possible without further encroachment of agriculture into natural ecosystems. Without ignoring the necessary demographic, socio-economic, institutional and governance requirements, we make the case for a science that develops the best ecological means to produce food in a way that has substantially less negative effects on biodiversity and associated ecosystem services and, indeed, should be able to contribute to their persistence and enhancement. Recent developments in trait-based ecology should soon make it possible to adapt and (re-)design agroecosystems to meet both goals of biodiversity conservation and food security. However, there are real tensions between, on the one hand, the opportunity costs of biodiversity conservation (for direct use and for conversion to agriculture) and on the other hand, the ecosystem service values and option values associated with biodiversity. We elaborate the management of plant genetic resources as a metaphor of the tensions between such values of biodiversity and ecosystem services in general. We conclude that significant changes in policies, institutions and practices are necessary to make advances in ecology work for reconciling biodiversity conservation and food security.
DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cosust.2010.03.007   (check subscription with CDU E-Gateway service for CDU Staff and Students  check subscription with CDU E-Gateway in new window)
 
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