THE ROLE AND IMPORTANCE OF AGROBIODIVERSITY FOR AGRICULTURE

Abstract

Biodiversity and agriculture have an inseparable relationship, with interdependent interactions between their constituent components. Agriculture as a basic anthropogenic activity is one of the main factors in the directions of development in biodiversity. Agrobiodiversity is the basis of the existence of food production processes and provides and secures many essential aspects of modern living. Many of these processes are completely unknown, and some of them we are not even aware that they are a consequence of the biological activity of various organisms. Thus, biodiversity provides food, clean drinking water, energy, raw materials for industry, tourism and recreational opportunities, scientific research, and medicine. If agricultural practices that promote biodiversity are used, such as: crop rotation, cover crops, buffer zones, use of biopesticides, beneficial insects and intercrops, then natural processes in soil, plants and environment are significantly intensified for the benefit of farmers, plants and the overall environment. On the other hand, if techniques and methods that reduce biodiversity are applied in the agroecosystem and its environment, such as fertilizers, chemical pesticides, hormones, intensive processing, monoculture and others, processes of reduction, disappearance and pollution of the environment and the overall biodiversity occur. Therefore, careful selection of agricultural practices is needed that would not jeopardize the survival of the species, and at the same time high yields with good quality will be achieved.

The aim of this review paper is to present up to date relationship between biodiversity and agriculture and to highlight current issues of biodiversity loss and methods for its conservation.