Cropland diversity has diminished with the advent of mechanized agriculture. In some cases, a single crop is grown year after year in the same field. The lack of diversity in crops rotated in a field has allowed pests to build up, reduced yields, and in some cases increased soil erosion and reduced soil quality. Recognizing these problems, efforts are underway in many farming regions to add mor...

The sustainability of society hinges on the future of agriculture. Though alternatives to unsustainable, high-input industrial agriculture are available, agricultural systems have been slow to transition to them. Much of the resistance to adopting alternative techniques stems from the perceived costs of alternative agriculture, mainly in terms of yields. The general assumption is that agricultu...