Based on a media release by Estación Biológica de Doñana EBD (CSIC), Seville, Spain
In a recent opinion article published in Nature Sustainability, a scientific team involving iDiv and the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) points to untapped potential of tree crops for biodiversity conservation, socio-economic development, and climate change mitigation.
Tree crops like olives, coffee, fruit trees, and cacao collectively cover more than 183 million hectares worldwide. According to the scientists, they remain largely overlooked in agricultural policies globally, despite their critical role in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In the new opinion piece, the researchers argue that these crops are not only essential to global diets and economies but also hold immense potential for biodiversity protection, climate action, and improving livelihoods for millions worldwide.
“We’re missing an opportunity to leverage tree crops to address some of the biggest environmental and social challenges of our time,” says Carlos Martínez-Núñez, researcher at the Doñana Biological Station and coordinator of the study. “When managed properly, these agricultural systems can be a powerful tool for biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation, and rural poverty alleviation, in addition to producing around 1,000 million metric tons of food annually.”
The authors recommend that policymakers develop specific agendas promoting sustainable practices in tree crop agriculture. According to the authors, agricultural policies typically focus on annual crops, such as wheat, sunflower, or rice, which have shorter life cycles, from germination to harvest, within a single year. While fostering sustainable practices in annual crops is crucial, the ecological benefits of these systems are often limited due to their simpler structure and short-term dynamics. Tree crops, by contrast, are structurally more complex and provide stable habitats that can support diverse biodiversity when managed sustainably.
With their permanent root systems and extensive leaf litter, tree crops also prevent soil erosion, enhance fertility, and provide habitats for many species year-round. They contribute to greenhouse gas reduction through carbon sequestration and storage, improve habitat connectivity for fragmented ecosystems, and buffer protected areas from the impacts of intensive agriculture. Socioeconomically, perennial tree crops tend to be less mechanised and require more manual labour, offering vital employment opportunities, particularly in developing countries where these crops are widespread.
The authors call for implementing regulations, financial incentives, and supportive policies aimed at improving agricultural practices for tree crops to maximise their contribution to global sustainability. “One striking example is the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), where measures can easily be placed to support farmers engaging in extensive management of orchards, restoring landscape features in vineyards or employing integrated pest management”, says Guy Pe’er, a co-author affiliated with the UFZ and iDiv. “Such orchards not only deliver healthy fruits but are also culturally valuable. However, support measures are missing, budgets are too limited and many farmers are even exempt from basic standards. In the next CAP reform, this could be easily addressed to the benefit of both farmers and society”, adds Pe’er.
This call to action represents a crucial step in rethinking agriculture’s role in building a fairer and more sustainable future, according to the authors.
Original publication
(iDiv researchers bolded)
Martinez-Nuñez, C., Velado-Alonso, E., Avelino, J., Rey, P. J., ten Hoopen, G. M., Pe’er, G., Zou, Y., Liu, Y., Antwi-Agyei, P., Rusch, A., Staver, C., Priyadarshana, T. S., Sonwa, D. J., Buchori, D., Garibaldi, L. A., Concepción, E. D., Lewis, O. T., Perfecto, I., Bartomeus, I. (2024). Tailored policies for perennial woody crops are crucial to advance Sustainable Development. Nature Sustainability. DOI: 10.1038/s41893-024-01483-8
Contact
Dr Guy Pe’er
The German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (Halle-Jena-Leipzig)
Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ
E-mail: guy.peer@idiv.de
Christine Coester
The German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (Halle-Jena-Leipzig)
Media and Communications
E-mail: christine.coester@idiv.de
Please note: Use of the pictures provided by iDiv is permitted for reports related to this media release only, and under the condition that credit is given to the picture originator.