Conservation and Enhancement of Biodiversity in Sustainable Cropping Systems

Dear Colleagues,

Agricultural systems have experienced a decline in biodiversity due to their emphasis on creating an ideal environment for a single target species while deliberately minimizing conditions for competing species. This approach has dominated intensive agricultural practices and involves heavy use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, which have negative implications for the environment and human health. The intensification of fertilization in recent decades has presented new environmental challenges, including nutrient imbalances, leaching of nutrients from crops into the environment, as well as geopolitical and economic concerns such as rising fertilizer costs and food security issues in impoverished countries. On the other hand, agricultural biodiversity plays a fundamental role in ensuring global food security as it provides the potential for natural adaptation to environmental and ecosystem changes and meets the ever-evolving nutritional requirements of humans. Preserving or introducing plant diversity in cropping systems can contribute to a progressive transition from industrial agriculture to an agroecological approach. Thus, the sustainable utilization of local agrobiodiversity entails maximizing its utilization and dissemination, providing a multitude of benefits in various conditions, whether in temperate or tropical agriculture. Both historical landraces and new wild germplasm are valuable genetic resources that have adapted to the environment and are capable of withstanding climate changes, as well as being resistant from a phytosanitary perspective. Hence, the increase in plant biodiversity can provide invaluable resources for the development of innovative agricultural systems that prioritize lower inputs.

In this Special Issue, we are looking for scientific contributions (i.e., articles, reviews, and short notes) that deal with the development of sustainable cropping systems through optimized plant diversification (varieties, ecotypes, landraces, and local wild species of agricultural interest) and enhanced ecological processes.

This Special Issue will focus on the following:

• Conservation and enrichment of plant collections;
• Selection of new plant germplasm;
• Development of protocols for the propagation and/or cultivation of new plant germplasm;
• Plant biodiversity role in shaping the ecological footprint of crop production;
• Reduction in chemical use in agriculture through increased biodiversity;
• Plant biodiversity impact on nutrient cycling processes and carbon storage in the soil;
• Promotion of biomass production through multi-species crop systems;
• Diversifying crop species to support pollinators and enhance natural pest management in agricultural environments.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Stefania Nin
Dr. Maurizio Antonetti
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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• plant biodiversity
• germplasm
• plant propagation
• sustainability
• agricultural practices