Biodiversity on the Farm
Nowhere can the strength of diversity be seen better than in nature, where an ecosystem’s success can often be traced to the variety of species that live there. The resilience of an ecosystem to changes and disturbances can be directly linked to diversity, as within any mix of species, some will respond better to disturbance, are best able to adapt, and can buffer the entire community against the loss of other species.
With changes to our climate and expanding human development putting more pressure than ever on wild ecosystems, biodiversity appears increasingly crucial to the survival of our planet’s ecology, and our own continued existence.
When conditions are in balance, most ecosystems, with some notable exceptions, tend toward diversity, with each plant and wildlife species existing in its own ecological niche. In sustainable agriculture circles, the concept of mimicking nature in farming methodologies has long circulated. Human-managed ecosystems receive the same benefits from species diversity as wild ones; stability and resilience in the face of outside pressures and disturbances.
As Wes Jackson, co-founder of The Land Institute in Kansas writes, “Essentially, all of nature’s ecosystems are perennial polycultures. Agriculture reversed that. Consequently, soil erosion became a problem. The wilderness has to become a standard against which we judge our agricultural and cultural practices.” The Land Institute’s research into perennial polyculture grain crops shows one path to creating farming systems that parallel natural ones. Intensive rotational grazing management that mimics the movement of large grazers like the American bison across the landscape, is another example.
The Biodynamic Farm Standards require 10% of a farm’s land-base be set aside as a biodiversity reserve. This requirement is unique to Biodynamic farming and is not mandatory for the many other sustainability-based certifications available to farmers. Much can be accomplished in these wildlife reserves that benefit the farm as a whole and improve and stabilize wider ecosystems.
According to the Biodynamic Federation - Demeter International (BFDI) website, “35% more birds and 23% more insects are found in organic farmland thanks to the creation of natural habitats and the absence of chemical and synthetic pesticides.” Biodynamic farms offer even more sanctuary for wildlife through intentional reserves and plantings.
Establishing flowering plants within growing areas or along field margins attracts a diverse mix of pollinator species. Many insects provide pollination for crops as well as predation of insects that cause crop damage. They also provide food for birds and other wildlife. During nesting season, bird consumption of insects provides 60-69% of their diet, providing high protein foods during a time of highest energy expenditure. Insects are crucial to breeding bird populations. Birds, likewise, provide many benefits beyond the pleasure we get from observing them. In areas in the Northeastern United States, for example, insect pests such as mosquitoes and house fly populations increase dramatically in the fall once the swallows migrate south, in a dramatic and observable example of the help bird species can provide to human communities.
Diversity doesn’t stop with plants, insects, birds and animals, either. This diversity extends to the soil, where complex webs of insects and fungi multiply in fields managed with Biodynamic methods. It extends to pastures interseeded with a diverse mix of grasses and forbs providing health for grazing livestock and resiliency in forage production. Diversity is required in crop rotations and included in our seed sources, seed saving, the use of heirlooms, open-pollinated, and local-adapted varieties.
The area of the farm set aside for biodiversity is an important link in the “Farm as a Living Organism” philosophy that underpins Biodynamics. To quote a BFDI post from 2021, “As essential as biodiversity is for life, it is essential for biodynamic farming. Only by preserving our biodiversity through a thoughtful collaboration with nature, biodynamic farmers can practice farming to its full potential.”
