Biodiverse Farming uses polycultures to produce food while simultaneously supporting greater biodiversity both within and beyond the farm. 

Polycultures are designed for positive species interactions between the crops and animals in a farming system.

Polycultures are designed for positive species interactions between the crops and animals in a farming system. These crop and animal interactions can be designed to fulfil the role which is often played by farm inputs such as fertilisers and crop protection. They can also reduce the need for irrigation and cultivation. The increased biodiversity provides mitigation against climatic extremes.

A couple of simplified examples can create some clarity on this point:

Grazing animals can be integrated into an arable crop rotation, grazing a high nutrient lay. 80% of what a cow eats passes into their manure and this manure is more easily absorbed into the soil than green matter, thus increasing the nutrient availability in the soil for the crops while reducing the need for input fertiliser. These interactions can support greater crop productivity while reducing input costs and generating an additional source of revenue.

The CBCF works with farmers to design biodiverse adaptations to their current farming systems which can increase profitability and biodiversity.

Trees in North/South rows with arable crops between can provide a windbreak for the crops. The deeper roots and increased soil carbon that the trees create through nutrient cycling and the soil biology associated with perineal roots, increase the availability of water and nutrients in the soil and improve soil structure. These interactions can support greater crop productivity while reducing inputs. The trees can provide a substantial secondary source of income which is more than sufficient to compensate for the reduced area planted with arable crops.

Biodiverse Farming can support greater crop productivity while reducing input costs.

The CBCF works with farmers to design biodiverse adaptations to their current farming systems. These more biodiverse systems can increase farmers profitability and create additional revenue streams that can protect them from market and climatic fluctuations. What is more, they can support greater biodiversity both within and beyond the farm.

Biodiverse Farming systems can be very effectively combined to create ultra-productive, ultra-biodiverse farms.

Below are pages with an overview of key Biodiverse Farming systems that inform the CBCF’s design process. These systems can be very effectively combined to create ultra-productive, ultra-biodiverse farms.