Farming With Nature: Innovations for Biodiversity Conservation and Resilient Food Systems

Agricultural science is at the critical intersection of food production and ecosystem stewardship. With agriculture underpinning food supply, livelihoods, and rural economies, it also places substantial stress on natural habitats, making it a primary driver of global biodiversity loss. Current challenges are marked by the need to ramp up food production to meet growing populations, while mitigating the detrimental ecological effects of intensive agricultural practices. Recent studies highlight how biodiversity underpins essential ecosystem services such as pollination, nutrient cycling, pest regulation, and water quality, all of which support resilient agroecosystems and sustainable yields. Agroecological models, regenerative agriculture, and the deployment of nature-based solutions are gaining momentum as strategies that can rebalance the relationship between agriculture and the environment. However, significant knowledge gaps remain regarding the scalability, governance, and integration of these approaches—especially when aligning traditional knowledge with cutting-edge technologies such as digital farming, precision agriculture, and artificial intelligence. A better understanding is also needed in linking these innovations to robust socio-ecological systems and effective policy frameworks.

This Research Topic aims to advance the scientific and practical knowledge required to harmonize agricultural productivity with biodiversity conservation. It seeks to illuminate pathways and solutions that allow food systems to adapt, thrive, and contribute positively to ecosystem health. Through a focus on agroecology, regenerative agriculture, technological integration, and participatory governance, this collection strives to answer critical questions: How can agriculture sustain both people and the planet? What innovations in practice and policy can achieve resilient, biodiversity-friendly food systems? Contributors are encouraged to provide new theories, case studies, empirical research, or methodological innovations that address these pressing challenges.

The scope of this Research Topic is broad, encompassing interdisciplinary research targeting agricultural practices, technological solutions, and governance approaches for biodiversity-friendly and resilient food systems. Manuscripts should align with efforts to bridge ecology, technology, and social sciences, but focus primarily on sustainable agricultural innovations and their impacts on biodiversity and food security. We welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

o Agroecological and regenerative agricultural practices

o Restoration and management of ecosystem services in food production

o Nature-based and digital solutions for monitoring and enhancing biodiversity

o Integration of traditional knowledge and socio-ecological innovation

o Governance models and participatory frameworks in sustainable food systems

o Theoretical, empirical, or methodological advances on the links between biodiversity, resilience, and agriculture

o Cross-disciplinary studies that inform policymaking and practical applications for sustainable food systems

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We welcome original research articles, theoretical and methodological papers, reviews, policy perspectives, and case studies.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Registered Report
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Agroecology, Biodiversity conservation, Nature-based solutions, Food security, Resilient food systems, Digital agriculture

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.