A new international study published in Nature Sustainability, led by Laura García-Velázquez, researcher from University of Alicante, and co-authored by Victoria Ochoa, researcher at AgroecoliveLab, shows that increasing the proportion of organic farming can contribute to healthier and more diverse soils.
The research analysed 179 agricultural landscapes with different shares of organic farming and found that areas with a higher presence of organic agriculture host richer and more diverse soil communities. These biological communities play a key role in maintaining soil functions such as nutrient cycling, soil structure and ecosystem resilience.
The results highlight the importance of promoting farming systems that enhance soil biodiversity and ecosystem services. Expanding organic farming within agricultural landscapes could therefore be an effective strategy to improve soil health and support more sustainable food production systems.