Diversifying Agriculture with Alternative Crops

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 more diversity to mechanized cropping systems. In some cases, a well-known commodity crop, such as a small grain, can be added to the rotation. However, there is great opportunity for agriculturalists to employ new or alternative crops. While some of these alternative crops were domesticated by earlier civilizations for food use, many of these crops have multiple uses. Oilseeds, for example, can serve as a source of many renewable products that replace petroleum derived materials. Cereal grains are good sources of starch based materials, and are vital to human and animal diets. Alternative legumes can improve the soil and are good sources of protein. Other crops with non-food uses include fiber and bioenergy crops. Although many of these alternative crops need further research and development to be commercialized widely, taken as a group they offer an excellent set of choices for diversifying cropland around the world.