Even though the global population continues to increase by 80 million or so people per year, the increase in food supply is still outstripping population growth. But at the same time, over 800 million people remain undernourished. While farmers are very well aware of some aspects of biodiversity, such as pollinators and genetic variability in the crops they grow, they may not fully appreciate the role that beneficial wild species play in controlling agricultural pests. But they are also painfully aware that some species of wildlife can be enormously destructive of some crops. Further, our current agriculture is heavily dependent on fossil fuel energy, and as oil becomes increasingly important, agriculture is going to become a more expensive enterprise. Choosing alternatives is going to require some significant tradeoffs, and the balance between conservation of wild biodiversity and the full implications of intensification will certainly test our ingenuity. Further, climate change is likely to put greater stresses on some agro-ecosystems while greatly benefiting others. But we know from history that times of rapid climate change can be times of social upheaval, as farmers are forced to change cropping patterns or even emigrate to other areas.

An important international agreement, the Convention on Biological Diversity, calls for the conservation of biodiversity at gene, species, and ecosystem levels; the sustainable use of biological resources; and the equitable distribution of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources. The CBD has been ratified by 188 countries to date. The CBD has a work plan on agriculture that seeks to promote ways for agricultural lands and the surrounding lands that support agriculture to work more productively together. This will help both farmers and biodiversity adapt to the changing conditions that are sure to come.