Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services as Insurance against risks of Future Weather Variability

Climate change has been heralded as presenting agriculture with opportunities, particularly a longer growing season, new crops and higher yields. However, the risks associated with crop production will increase if the weather (e.g., daily rainfall and temperatures) becomes more variable, because it could bring about more frequent dry or wet conditions, as well as more intense weather events. Conserving soil biodiversity (natural capital) and associated supporting ecosystem services (ES) can though provide farmers and society in general with insurance against future
risks.

This project is financed by the Strategic Research Area BECC.

Would it be beneficial to conserve soil biodiversity as a protection against the agricultural risks that come with a changing climate?