Biodiversity

A multifunctional agriculture of the future faces the challenge of not only producing healthy food, but also preserving and developing the diversity of plant and animal species in the historically evolved cultural landscapes. Biodiversity encompasses various levels - from genetic diversity to the diversity of varieties and species to the diversity of biotope types at landscape level.

While today's predominant form of land management is considered to be the main cause of species loss in Germany, numerous comparative studies attest to the positive effects of organic farming on biodiversity at various levels. Nevertheless, there is a need for action: today's optimization of production technology needs to be supplemented by active measures to promote biodiversity; a conversion to organic farming does not automatically mean a species-rich landscape in order to protect biodiversity, promote it in a targeted manner and actively develop diverse and regionally typical cultural landscapes.

With this objective in mind, research projects have been carried out at the FÖL for over 25 years. Studies are currently being carried out to monitor the success of the above-mentioned project to enhance the cultural landscape of the Hessian state domain of Frankenhausen. Further studies concern synergies social farming with nature and cultural landscape development.

• Stein-Bachinger K, Brock C, Matouschek M, Athmann M (2023): Nature conservation on Demeter farms. Status quo, individual motivations and development potential. Living Earth 2: 16-17
• Gärtner, A.-C., van Elsen, T. (2013): Reintroduction of rare and endangered arable wild plants on organic farms. Subproject Witzenhausen: Experiments on practical farms. - Contrib. 12th Research Conference Ecol. Landbau: 394-397, Bonn.
• van Elsen, T. (2009): Landscape seminars in social farming. New impulses for cultural landscape development through organic farming. - Contrib. 10th Research Conference on Organic Farming. Landbau (Vol. 1): 418-421, Zurich.
• van Elsen, T. (ed.) (2005): Individual farm nature conservation advice - a recipe for success for more nature conservation in agriculture. Contributions to the conference from October 6-8, 2005 in Witzenhausen. FiBL Germany e.V., 200 p., Witzenhausen.
• van Elsen, T., Godt, J. (2000): Landscape Development by Organic Farming - Methodology and first practical steps on the Hessian Domaine Frankenhausen. - In: Alföldi, T., Lockeretz, W., Niggli, U. (Eds.): IFOAM 2000 - The World Grows Organic. Proceedings ^13th International IFOAM Scientific Conference: 446, Zurich.