Which practice contributes to the resilience of agroecosystems?

Agroecological practices contribute significantly to the resilience of agroecosystems by promoting biodiversity, optimizing the use of natural resources, and enhancing ecological balance. These practices include crop rotation, intercropping, cover cropping, and reduced tillage, all of which work to improve soil health, reduce pest pressures naturally, and support beneficial organisms.

By embracing biodiversity, agroecological practices help ecosystems to adapt to and recover from disturbances, such as pests or changing climate conditions. This resilience is crucial for maintaining productivity and sustainability over time, allowing farmers to produce food while protecting the environment.

Other options tend to lead to monocultures or reliance on synthetic inputs, which can diminish biodiversity and weaken ecosystem resilience. For instance, monoculture planting strategies and industrial farming techniques often focus on short-term yields but can make systems more vulnerable to pests, diseases, and climatic variations. The use of chemical fertilizers can enhance growth in the short term but may lead to nutrient imbalances and reduce soil health in the long run, ultimately undermining ecosystem resilience.