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The truth about lost crop diversity: Why does it threaten global food security?
Crop diversity, also known as crop biodiversity, refers to the variety and variability of crops and plants used in agriculture, including variation in genetic and phenotypic characteristics. The past fifty years have seen a major decline in crop diversity, particularly in two areas: the genetic diversity within each crop and the number of common seeds. In the context of global food security, the threat of loss of crop diversity is a challenge that cannot be ignored for all of the world's population who rely on a limited number of crop varieties.
In recent years, agriculture has become increasingly dependent on monoculture, which has significantly reduced the resistance of the entire production process to single diseases.
In this case, historical lessons like the Irish famine are a warning that when resistance to disease is weakened, entire harvests can be destroyed. Examples include the "Gros Michel" banana variety, which has been hit by commercial extinction, a situation that highlights the risks of relying on a single crop.
Loss of biodiversity
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) considers biodiversity loss to be one of the most serious environmental problems today. Under current trends, many plant species are at risk of extinction. Wild relatives of some cereals, such as wheat, maize, rice and sorghum, have 6% of species threatened, as do 18% of legumes and 13% of nightshade plants, such as potato, tomato, eggplant and pepper. .
The diversity within crops is influenced by multiple factors, including soil nutrients, water availability and soil pH, which all affect how crops grow.
The importance of diversity within crops
Crop diversity not only affects the external environment, but also includes diversity under genetic differences. For example, some crops may have genes for early maturity or disease resistance. These traits combined determine the overall characteristics and future potential of the crop. With the development of modern plant breeding technology, agricultural experts are able to create crop varieties with higher yields, disease resistance and longer shelf life, but such selection is also gradually reducing genetic diversity.
Ecological effects
Diversity is an important cornerstone of the functioning of agricultural ecosystems. In addition to the basic functions of producing food, fuel and fiber, it also includes nutrient recycling, maintenance of soil fertility, water flow regulation and disease control. However, modern agriculture has severely weakened this ecological diversity. Traditional systems, such as crop cultivation in the Andes, preserve the diversity within crop species and significantly increase the resilience of agricultural systems.
Crop varieties that are resistant to pests and diseases can reduce the use of harmful pesticides, which is crucial to protecting the environment.
Economic impact
Agriculture is the economic foundation of most countries and is an important source of economic growth for developing countries in particular. While agricultural growth can bring benefits to the rural poor, this is not always the case. Increasing crop diversity can help reduce the risk of crop failure and provide higher returns, yet the economic value of crop diversity has not yet been fully quantified.
Disease Threats
Pests and diseases are the main causes of crop losses. Genetic homogeneity corresponding to certain forms of continuous planting of seeds weakens crop resistance. Historically, for example, the Great Irish Famine of 1845-1847 was caused by a type of fungus that destroyed the low diversity of crops that were the basis of reliance.
Organizations and technologies that aid preservation
As the issue of crop diversity intensifies, global organizations such as the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute are actively supporting actions to protect crop diversity. Gene banks and the involvement of local farmers offer hope for saving some of the endangered local breeds. Comprehensive actions to protect agricultural genetic resources include planting and seed protection, etc., to ensure sustainable agricultural development in the future.
Can we take effective measures to protect crop diversity to ensure future food security?
