What is a major environmental benefit of sustainable agriculture?

Sustainable agriculture is designed with the goal of maintaining the health of the environment while also meeting the food needs of the growing population. One of the major environmental benefits of sustainable agriculture is the enhancement of biodiversity and ecosystem health. This approach promotes practices that conserve resources, reduce chemical inputs, and support diverse biological communities.

By fostering a variety of plants and animal species, sustainable agricultural practices can improve soil health, enhance water quality, and create resilient ecosystems that can better withstand environmental stresses such as climate change. Techniques such as crop rotation, cover cropping, and integrated pest management not only protect soil from erosion but also promote a diverse habitat for beneficial organisms, leading to a more balanced environmental ecosystem.

Contrastingly, the other options mentioned — such as depletion of soil nutrients, increased soil erosion, and dependency on synthetic inputs — highlight negative impacts often associated with conventional agricultural practices that do not prioritize environmental health. Such practices can lead to a decrease in ecological functions, soil fertility, and overall agricultural sustainability. Therefore, the choice of enhanced biodiversity and ecosystem health effectively summarizes the core benefit of sustainable agriculture in fostering a stable and productive agricultural system.