Banner_Image_crop_diversity03_(1).webp
Earth first

Crop Diversity: Why It Matters

The FAO estimates that we lost 75% of our crop diversity during the 20th century. This trend is threatening food security and human health. But in recent years awareness has increased and efforts to reverse this trend are being made.

Crop diversity: What it means

When we wander around the fruit and vegetable aisles in the supermarket, most of us are not aware of the fact that what we see is just a small fraction of what could be there. 

Scientists estimate that there are about 400,000 plant species on our planet and approximately half of them are edible.1,2 Throughout human history, we have probably used around 7,000 plant species in our agricultural systems. Yet, today only about 30 crop species make up 90% of the calories in our diet and only three species (rice, wheat, and maize) account for roughly half of the human calorie supply.3,4

Over the 20th century, we have lost 75% of our crop diversity.5 The main reason for this dramatic decline is the fact that our industrialised food system focuses on high crop productivity, standardisation, and uniformity rather than diversity.4 

In the current setting, a handful of multinational companies supply the majority of commercial seeds. These companies only invest in a limited variety of seeds and therefore, decide what is on offer.6 A US study found that out of 544 different kinds of cabbage in 1903 only 28 survived until 1983. Out of 307 maize varieties, only 12 were left in 1903 and 408 pea varieties were reduced to just 25. The list goes on.7, 8 

Some of the lost species might still exist in somebody’s garden or are stored in a dusty seed jar in some basement. But they disappeared from our seed catalogues and hence are not available for commercial farming anymore.7 

A risk to food security

Declining crop diversity poses a huge threat to food security and human health.7, 9  With the global population expected to reach about 9.7 billion people in 2050,10 food security remains a major challenge. 

It may seem counterintuitive but focusing on highly productive crop varieties, while ignoring the qualities of less productive varieties, threatens overall food security. Relying on a small number of crop species and varieties makes the food system vulnerable to shocks such as droughts, pests, and diseases.6,11 In a uniform agricultural system, the failure of one key crop can have disastrous consequences. 

A good example is the famous Irish potato famine of the 19th century. When a large part of the Irish population relied on just one potato variety, a potato blight destroyed most of the harvest. The effects were devastating, causing the death of about one million people. And in the years to follow at least another million people fled the country.12

Especially with the prospect of climate change, crop failures are expected to become more frequent.6 Crop diversity plays a key role in addressing this challenge. Diverse crop varieties have diverse qualities. Some are highly productive, while others are more resilient to droughts, pests and diseases and perform better in adverse conditions. Therefore, high crop diversity increases the resilience of our food system and thus food security.

Declining crop diversity and human health

Food security, however, is not only about quantity but also about quality. Estimates suggest that one in three people suffers from micronutrient deficiencies. At the same time almost 2 billion people are overweight or obese.13 

So in order to fight malnutrition and diet-related diseases, people not only need access to calorie-rich foods but also access to diverse food and the full range of nutrients.11, 14 However, reduced crop diversity makes it difficult to supplement the energy-dense part of the human diet with nutrient-rich foods.6 This, in combination with globalisation have caused human diets to become more uniform and less healthy all over the world.6, 15

Reversing the downward trend

Luckily, in recent years we’ve seen an increasing recognition of the importance of crop diversity.4, 11 An important step in maintaining and increasing seed diversity is the creation of so-called gene banks. Today more than 1750 gene banks all over the world collect, preserve and share all different kind of seeds to promote agricultural research and the development of new varieties.16,17 However, the accessibility to (new) varieties remains a challenge and the full potential of gene banks for breeding and research still needs to be explored.17

What can you do as a consumer?

If you want to support crop diversity, look out for rare varieties. Farmer's markets often have a bigger selection, you might find it easier to access rare for your own garden or balcony to grow your own food. By collecting the seeds you can even cultivate your own variety, which over the years will be adapted to your local conditions. 

Do you support crop diversity by growing your own food? Let us know in the comments.

Related articles

Most viewed

Inside Our Food

Caffeine: How Much is Too Much?

Samanta Oon

If a caffeine kick is part of your morning ritual, you’re not alone — around 80% of us…

Earth First

Spirulina | How It’s Grown

Katharina Kropshofer

The algae spirulina was already harvested by indigenous people in Mexico and Chad. Today, scientists…

Earth First

How Does Colour Affect The Way We Eat?

Dr Caroline Wood

It’s often said that ‘we eat with our eyes’ and science shows this is true –…

Earth First

Where Does Jackfruit Come From and How Is It Grown?

Madhura Rao

A large, spiky, green coloured fruit called ‘jackfruit’ has been making appearances at…

Inside Our Food

Instant Noodles | How Are They Made?

Madhura Rao

You’ve probably had instant noodles when you're too lazy to cook up a warm meal, but do you…

The Future

Milk Production | What Really Drives the Price of Milk?

Katharina Kropshofer

More milk, fewer farmers and a sinking demand: So why has the price of milk been falling? And, why…

History & Culture

Desert Locust Plague 2020: A Threat to Food Security

Molly Melvin

Countries across East Africa have been hit with the worst locust plague the region has seen in…

History & Culture

What is Chai? | Masala Chai Recipe

Nandini Tengvall

Where does chai originate from and how do you make your own masala chai?

The Future

COVID-19: How UK Food Production Is Adapting

Molly Melvin

As COVID-19 wreaks havoc on food industries worldwide, causing the closure of businesses, slowing…

Earth First

4 Ways To Prevent Food Waste

Annabel Slater

42% of food wastage in Europe occurs in the household, with the UK, Germany and the Netherlands…

Earth First

Zero-Waste Restaurant | Lessons from FREA

David Urry,David J. Suchy

The amount of food waste produced by restaurants can be staggering – piles of unused food in…

Inside Our Food

Manuka Honey and Jarrah Honey | How It’s Made

Tim Angeloni

Manuka honey has been widely hailed as a natural remedy, but how is Manuka honey made?

References
  1. FAO (1997). “The State of the World’s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture”. FAO. Accessed 16 January 2020.
  2. Chable et al. (2020). “Embedding Cultivated Diversity in Society for Agro-Ecological Transition”. Sustainability. Accessed 02 May 2021.
  3. FAO (2010). “Crop biodiversity: use it or lose it”. FAO. Accessed 09 June 2021.
  4. Kinver (2014). “Crop diversity decline 'threatens food security'”. BBC News. Accessed 02 May 2021.
  5. Seed: The Untold Story discussion guide. Accessed 02 May 2021.
  6. “Seeds & Breeds for 21st Century Agriculture”. RAFI (Rural Advancement Foundation International) USA. Accessed 02 May 2021.
  7. National Research Council (1993). “Managing Global Genetic Resources: Agricultural Crop Issues and Policies”. The National Academies Press. Accessed 02 May 2021.
  8. United Nations (2019). “Growing at a slower pace, world population is expected to reach 9.7 billion in 2050 and could peak at nearly 11 billion around 2100”. United Nations: Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Accessed 02 May 2021.
  9. Bioversity International. “Agricultural Biodiversity”. CGIAR. Accessed 02 May 2021.
  10. Joel Mokyr. “Great Famine”. Britannica. Accessed 09 June 2021.
  11. GBD 2015 Obesity Collaborators (2017). 'Health effects of overweight and obesity in 195 countries over 25 years.'. The New England Journal of Medicine. Accessed 09 June 2021.
  12. Crop Trust. “Crop Diversity: Why it Matters”. Accessed 02 May 2021.
  13. Colin K. Khoury et al. (2014). “Increasing homogeneity in global food supplies and the implications for food security”. PNAS. Accessed 09 June 2021.
  14. Weber (2020). “Preserving Crop Diversity for Future Generations: Launch of EU Research Project AGENT”. CORDIS EU research results. Accessed 02 May 2021.
  15. Duggan. “Inside the ‘Doomsday’ Vault”. Time. Accessed 02 May 2021.
See MoreSee Less

Keep updated with the latest news about your food with our newsletter

Follow Us