Potential for a New Generation of Biodiversity in Agroecosystems*

Liebig’s assertion has been proved true. The ability to substitute synthetic fertilizers for nutrient cycling enabled farmers to specialize in the production of a handful of commodities, abandon most mixed farming practices, and dramatically reduce labor input. In a single paragraph, David Keller and Charlie Brummer (2002) succinctly describe the kind of modern farming operations that have resulted from Liebig’s vision.