Intensive Farming Outperforms Wildlife-Friendly Agriculture for Biodiversity Conservation, Study Finds

A new review published in the Journal of Zoology suggests that to conserve global biodiversity and feed a growing human population, agriculture should become more intensive rather than wildlife-friendly. The study, which analyzed 2,500 species across different agricultural landscapes, found that high-yield, intensive farming in smaller areas ('land sparing') benefited most species compared to wildlife-friendly farming that requires more land ('land sharing').

While this challenges the current focus on wildlife-friendly agriculture, experts warn that intensification can lead to pollution, climate change, pesticide drift, and the conversion of natural habitats for agriculture. Some argue for a shift towards sustainable diets and reduced food waste as alternatives to intensive farming to restore nature without compromising biodiversity.