(a revenue that is six times higher per unit of surface area compared to US
production), while the competition for export is growing internationally (CBS and
WUR 2017; FAOstat 2019).
As small-scale agriculture has had positive effects on biodiversity. In Europe,
biodiversity even showed a peak in species richness in the mid of the nineteenth
century (Haveman et al. 2009), when a wide spectre of small crop-fields, forests, and
meadows covered the countryside. Large-scale agriculture has opposite consequences. The lack of habitat diversity, environmental gradients and landscape
connections are detrimental for biodiversity. The use of pesticides only strengthen
this effect. A growing number of studies show a massive decline in insects over the
last decades. Not only the number of species of insects decreased, also the total
number of insects is in strong decline. Up to a 75% loss of insects was reported in
heavily cultivated Netherlands and Western Germany within 30 years (Hallmann
et al. 2017). The use of neonicotinoid pesticides, which is only part of its cause, has
its legacy as the now-banned poisons were accumulated in the food web, probably
led to a massive decline in insectivorous bird species in the same region in the same
period. As insect populations disappear, also the services they provide for agriculture
are under threat. Wild pollinators are essential for the production of 35% of our
crops, of which amongst are 121 different bee species on a global scale (Klein et al.
2006).
As the world population is growing and the development of second and third
world countries is gaining pace, the global intensification of agricultural lands is
persistent.
5 Turning the Tide
The growing global demand for nutrition, space, natural resources, the threats of
climate change, soil depletion, pollution and biodiversity decline underline the need
for a different approach in our land use and agriculture. A tremendous amount of
studies shows that biodiversity is a key factor in maintaining agricultural production.
Climate resilience, crop health, pollination, soil stability and crop yields are all
linked to local biodiversity. Therefore, to ensure food security in the future
maintaining and supporting biodiversity should be a focus in the development.
5.1 Scaling Down
Large-scale intensified and internationally orientated agriculture, where an acre of
land is forced to produce a yield, which demands many times more natural resources
than an acre, can deliver, leads to land depletion and biodiversity loss. Added to that
are the disadvantages of international transport (emissions) and the waste of products
through this supply chain. Up to 75% of the fresh product are lost before
420
J. H. J. Schaminée and N. M. van Rooijen
production), while the competition for export is growing internationally (CBS and
WUR 2017; FAOstat 2019).
As small-scale agriculture has had positive effects on biodiversity. In Europe,
biodiversity even showed a peak in species richness in the mid of the nineteenth
century (Haveman et al. 2009), when a wide spectre of small crop-fields, forests, and
meadows covered the countryside. Large-scale agriculture has opposite consequences. The lack of habitat diversity, environmental gradients and landscape
connections are detrimental for biodiversity. The use of pesticides only strengthen
this effect. A growing number of studies show a massive decline in insects over the
last decades. Not only the number of species of insects decreased, also the total
number of insects is in strong decline. Up to a 75% loss of insects was reported in
heavily cultivated Netherlands and Western Germany within 30 years (Hallmann
et al. 2017). The use of neonicotinoid pesticides, which is only part of its cause, has
its legacy as the now-banned poisons were accumulated in the food web, probably
led to a massive decline in insectivorous bird species in the same region in the same
period. As insect populations disappear, also the services they provide for agriculture
are under threat. Wild pollinators are essential for the production of 35% of our
crops, of which amongst are 121 different bee species on a global scale (Klein et al.
2006).
As the world population is growing and the development of second and third
world countries is gaining pace, the global intensification of agricultural lands is
persistent.
5 Turning the Tide
The growing global demand for nutrition, space, natural resources, the threats of
climate change, soil depletion, pollution and biodiversity decline underline the need
for a different approach in our land use and agriculture. A tremendous amount of
studies shows that biodiversity is a key factor in maintaining agricultural production.
Climate resilience, crop health, pollination, soil stability and crop yields are all
linked to local biodiversity. Therefore, to ensure food security in the future
maintaining and supporting biodiversity should be a focus in the development.
5.1 Scaling Down
Large-scale intensified and internationally orientated agriculture, where an acre of
land is forced to produce a yield, which demands many times more natural resources
than an acre, can deliver, leads to land depletion and biodiversity loss. Added to that
are the disadvantages of international transport (emissions) and the waste of products
through this supply chain. Up to 75% of the fresh product are lost before
420
J. H. J. Schaminée and N. M. van Rooijen