Agriculture and Biodiversity

This module includes an overview of the history of agriculture, different agricultural practices and their relationship with biodiversity, and a discussion on the potential advantages and disadvantages of small and large-scale agriculture and how they can affect biodiversity at the ecosystem, species, and genetic levels. In addition to a background Synthesis, there are two exercises: one short discussion-based exercise focusing on decision-making at a hypothetical cacao plantation in Peru and a new exercise exploring how genetically modified crops may influence agricultural management practices, and their subsequent effects on diversity and ecosystem function on farmlands.