A short story on biodiversity

Have you ever wondered what happens when a new plant is added to a field?

In simple terms, the biodiversity of that place increases.

A new plant joins the community above ground, while below the surface its roots and microbial partners begin forming new relationships too.

Research from people like Dr. Christine Jones, and studies such as the Jena Experiment in Germany, have shown that increasing biodiversity can strengthen how ecosystems function; improving productivity, stability, soil health, and resilience.

But adding something new to a farming system is not always easy. It takes experimentation, risk, time, and support.

That’s why collaboration matters so much in this space. Farmers, researchers, organisations, and communities all hold different pieces of knowledge and experience. Recently, Proximity Designs shared the results of cover crop trials to Healthy Soil Farmers in a Peer Group Meeting.

Supporting farmers to increase biodiversity should matter to all of us because the way land is managed influences water, soil, climate, and the wider living systems we are all part of.