Richness of cultivated species
Definition
Average number of cultivated species (within a catalog of 42 species) identified by satellite imagery per 10 km² of arable land.
Interpretation
Greater richness and diversity of cultivated species is associated with several positive outcomes for production (production stability, reduction of pest and disease outbreaks, greater pollinator diversity) and for the environment (greater richness and abundance of insects and birds, greater soil biodiversity). This indicator can be used to identify the number of crops cultivated in areas of 10x10 km or larger. As the database includes 42 species, locations with values much lower than 42 likely cultivate in simplified monoculture systems, while locations with crop richness close to 42 likely cultivate in multifunctional systems. Note that the scale of the data (10x10 km) means that many small farms producing different crops in monocultures will likely result in higher crop richness or diversity indices than several large farms using intercropping or crop rotation systems. There is no clear scientific consensus on a crop richness target to ensure sustainable production systems.
Data source
MASPSPAM: https://www.mapspam.info/data/
| Level | Periodicity |
|---|---|
| State | 5 years |