TITLE:
Finding Food Security through Changing the Agricultural Model to Sustain Insect Biodiversity
AUTHORS:
Astrid Jankielsohn
KEYWORDS:
Food Security, Agricultural Model, Biodiversity Loss, Climate Change, Ecological Intensification, Insects, Ecosystem Functioning, Human Population Increase
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Entomology,
Vol.9 No.3,
July
16,
2021
ABSTRACT: Worldwide biodiversity is being threatened by human
activities to a greater level wherein the natural ecosystems are reaching the
verge of collapsing. We are faced with four major interrelated challenges
namely a changing climate, biodiversity loss, human population growth and food
production for this growing population. Agricultural intensification
contributes significantly to biodiversity loss. The agricultural model for our
current food production systems is mainly based on the Green Revolution, which
promoted the cultivation of crops in extensive monoculture fields and intensified
external inputs of agrochemicals. This model resulted in biodiversity loss,
particularly in insect populations. A model based on ecological intensification
as an alternative to agricultural
intensification with minimized use of agro-inputs may slow the rate of
biodiversity loss resulting in more sustainable agricultural ecosystems.