Biodiversity is only possible with selectivity

Agricultural Biodiversity: Pillar of Sustainability and Food Security

According to BIOSANI's vision, biodiversity in agricultural spaces or ecosystems encompasses the totality of living beings, habitats and interconnected elements that interact directly or indirectly with agricultural activities. This includes not only the diversity of plants and animals used in production, but also the wild species that provide services to the ecosystem, the microorganisms that influence soil fertility and plant health, as well as the ecosystem itself that sustains agricultural production.

Maintaining agricultural biodiversity is essential to ensure:

• Food security and nutritional;
• Environmental quality and ecological balance;
• Sustainable development of rural communities.

Biodiversity performs vital functions for the sustainability of agroecosystems, such as:

• Provision of genetic resources for plant and animal breeding, increasing productivity, resistance to pests and diseases, and adaptability to climate change;
• Provision of ecosystem services such as pollination, biological control, nutrient recycling, water and air purification, and climate regulation;
• Production of food, fibres, medicines and fuels;
• Generation of social, cultural and economic benefits, such as the valorisation of local knowledge, income creation and the promotion of food security.

However, agricultural biodiversity faces several challenges, many of which result directly from agricultural practices:

• Loss and fragmentation of natural habitats due to agricultural expansion, deforestation, urbanisation and climate change;
• Genetic erosion through the replacement of local varieties with uniform commercial cultivars and the introduction of invasive exotic species;
• Pollution and depletion of natural resources through the excessive use of agrochemicals, water and energy;
• Lack of public policies and incentives that promote the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.

To address these challenges, it is essential to adopt agricultural practices that respect, value and promote biodiversity. BIOSANI maintains that “biodiversity is only possible with selectivity”, that is, with the use of products and methods that act on pests and diseases without harming beneficial organisms and the environment.

Types of Selectivity

1 - Ecological Selectivity: Based on the differences in behaviour and habitat between pests and natural enemies. Examples include:

• Localised applications in infested areas;
• Use of systemic products absorbed by plants;
• Spraying at times that do not coincide with the activity of pollinators.

2 - Physiological Selectivity: Based on the differences in sensitivity and metabolism between pests and beneficial organisms. Examples include:

• Insecticides that act specifically on the nervous system of insects;
• Fungicides that interfere with the ergosterol synthesis of fungi.

The application of selective methodologies is crucial to preserve agricultural biodiversity, contributing to:

• Long-term sustainability;
• Environmental quality;
• Food security.

Note: This text represents the vision of BIOSANI and the rationale behind its practices and services. It does not intend to be exhaustive, but rather to reflect the truth in which we believe and which we promote among our partners and clients.