Protecting crops through plant diversity

The advent of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides freed farmers from yield-
limiting environmental constraints while simplifying agricultural fields and
landscapes. The environmental and health impacts of this dominant model, as
well as its interrelationships with climate change and biodiversity loss, are
now well established by the scientific community.

Although there is increasing societal demand for agriculture that meets food
demand while respecting the environment and human health, the agro-ecological
transition of cropping systems is insufficiently engaged. One of the reasons
put forward for this inertia is the lack of effective alternatives to
pesticides to protect crops.

This collective scientific assessment looks at crop protection strategies
based on plant diversification in agricultural areas and analyses the
obstacles and levers to their adoption by farmers. It is part of the Écophyto
2+ plan, which supports the production of knowledge and tools needed to reduce
synthetic pesticide use.

This book is intended for teaching professionals, researchers, students,
stakeholders in the agricultural world, land managers, environmental
organisations and associations, and any citizen interested in such issues.





The French version of this book, Protéger les cultures par la diversité
végétale, is available on our website.

La version française de ce titre, Protéger les cultures par la diversité
végétale, est disponible sur notre site.