Abstract
The conversion of semi-natural environments into cultivated ones and the intensification of agricultural practices, particularly the growing use of pesticides, are among the main factors behind the current decline in biodiversity. At the same time, the world's food requirements are increasing as a result of human population growth and changing lifestyles. The combination of these two trends is leading many to question the best strategy for halting the decline in biodiversity while producing enough food for the human population. This question is the subject of intense scientific debate, with many operational repercussions.
In this seminar, I will present the foundations of this debate and its limits. I will then show how work in landscape ecology can identify levers for action to maximize synergies between biodiversity and agricultural production. In particular, I will present the importance of crop heterogeneity in promoting biodiversity and ecosystem services while maintaining agricultural production. Finally, I will illustrate how these scientific findings can inform public policies such as the Common Agricultural Policy and environmental labelling of food products.
