The widespread adoption of biodiverse, agroecological agroforestry systems is a viable and effective way of integrating biodiversity into agriculture, recuperating degraded land and natural water sources, diversifying farmers' sources of income and diets, and addressing climate change. Small farmers in all biomes of Brazil are on the leading edge of the development of agroforestry systems, inspired by indigenous knowledge and practices, which emulate, accelerate and optimize the natural processes and cycles of forests and produce a wide range of foods (fruit, vegetables, grains, cereals, nuts, etc.), future sources of timber and medical plants, all in abundance. These systems are already being adapted to the climates and growing conditions of other parts of the world, including North and Central America, other countries in South America, Africa, and Australia.
It is important to note that since these AFSs are inserted in the cycles present in all living systems, they help restore the natural processes that ensure the continuity of life in the system, such as natural regeneration, seed dispersal, pollination (i.e., the natural processes that maintain and expand forests), food chain complexification, and the increase in the population of microorganisms, etc. This all leads to a greater diversity of not only plant, tree and animal species, but also of natural processes.
As modern, industrial agriculture is designed to produce short-cycle edible plants in monocultures and animal protein in open areas or clearings, while preventing the natural succession of species and the return of forests, it is, in fact, incompatible with the goal of increasing biodiversity. Minor changes to this model will not be enough to alter its general tendency to further the degradation of land and the depletion natural resources. Other more effective systems based on a vision in which humans actually see themselves as one part of nature and are aware that they can and must use their intelligence and physical labour to work in harmony with people and nature, particularly trees and forests, to produce our food and regenerate the planet exist and are the most effective way of integrating biodiversity into agriculture.
Sra. Karen Lang