A new study by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) has suggested that while nature-friendly farming methods improve both biodiversity and crop yields, government subsidies may be required to make it as profitable as conventional farming.

The four-year study, which was carried out alongside Rothamsted Research, was undertaken across 17 farms in southern England, and explored various agroecological methods as well as the financial viability of said methods.

As it found, incorporating nature-friendly practices led to improved biodiversity, as well as higher populations of pollinators, natural pest predators, and earthworms in the ecological systems.

At the same time, however, the cost of developing these habitats, coupled with the loss of land that could otherwise be used for production, affected the profitability of these systems, with the researchers suggesting that subsidies may therefore be required to support farms’ transition to sustainable agriculture.

“Without the introduction of new financial incentives, many farmers will be deterred from adopting agroecological farming practices and systems,” commented UKCEH ecologist Dr Ben Woodcock, who led the study.

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