Impacts of agriculture intensification on biodiversity loss, climate change and ecosystem services

Abstract

Agricultural intensification harms biodiversity and contributes to climate change and ecosystem services (ES) degradation. Therefore, this opinion study aims to assess the impacts of agricultural intensification in three key aspects. Agricultural intensification causes biodiversity loss, greenhouse gas emissions, climate change, and an increase in the severity and frequency of extreme events. This will negatively impact all regulating and cultural ES (except for knowledge systems) and all provisioning ES in the long term. Sustainable agriculture practices are not enough to ensure food security in a world with a growing demand for food. Ensuring food security without compromising the environment is one of the greatest challenges of our time. Although it is necessary to ensure food security, without healthy ecosystems, this is not possible. A transformational change in our society and policy is needed to halt this process. Therefore, it is essential to recognise that a shift in consumption habits is necessary.