Biodiversity and Sustainability in Food Production—Tasks ahead

摘要

Biodiversity is the sum total of all biotic variations from the level of gene to ecosystems ins an integral aspect of sustainability in agriculture and rural development. Agrobiodiversity in terms of the variations in plant and animal species exploited for agriculture is significant in India and other developed countries of the Indian region, as the Vavilovian centres of origin of the majority of these species are located in this region. It will be fascinating to note that more than 90% of the biodiversity in India, especially those of smaller organisms like insects, are yet to be studied and this task is to be accomplished before many of these become extinct. It is also relevant that many of these species may have utilitarian values for the basic needs of food, fibre and shelter, and for other uses such as cosmetics, dyes, medicines, pharmaceutical and industrial utilities. Biodiversity studies integrated with biosystematics and biotechnology need to be given mre impetus in the near future for sustainability in agricultural production.