monoculture

Monoculture refers to the agricultural, horticultural, or silvicultural practice of cultivating a single species, variety, or genotype over a large area or for successive crops. In farming, monoculture concentrates production and standardizes management practices, enabling mechanization, simplification of inputs, and economies of scale. Monoculture also appears in forestry and urban landscaping, where a single tree species is grown over large areas.

In agriculture, monoculture can increase short-term yields and reduce per-unit labor. It often relies on synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and high-yielding varieties, and is linked to global commodity systems and specialization.

However, monoculture carries ecological risks: reduced biodiversity, degraded soil health, increased vulnerability to pests, diseases, and climate shocks, and greater reliance on external inputs. Pest outbreaks can spread rapidly when genetic diversity is low, requiring chemical controls and sometimes leading to resistance. It can also contribute to nutrient depletion and soil erosion, and to genetic erosion when local varieties are displaced.

Responses include diversified farming practices such as crop rotation, intercropping, cover cropping, agroforestry, and regenerative agriculture, as well as policy measures to preserve seed diversity and resilient landscapes. In forestry, mixed-species stands are used to reduce risk and improve resilience, while in urban planning, mixed vegetation reduces pests and heat islands. The term remains a focal point in debates about food security, sustainability, and resilience to climate change.