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Protecting crops with plant diversity: Agroecological promises, socioeconomic lock-in, and political levers
Plant diversification—such as cultivar mixtures, intercropping, agroforestry, and rotations at the field scale, or hedgerows, grasslands, and crop mosaics at the landscape scale—is a key strategy for enhancing pest control while providing strong ecological benefits. However, its adoption is hindered by socioeconomic barriers, including low short-term profitability, rigid agricultural sectors, and limited support from public policies. A multi-stakeholder approach at the territorial scale is essential to promote its widespread adoption.