Species diversity: The diversity of species that support production through different varieties that belong to a particular species.

Ecosystem diversity: The diversity of agro-ecosystems specific to different geographical regions.

Conserving the agrobiodiversity in different agro-ecosystems is an important aspect of a sound food production system and contributes in large part to food security in farming communities. The primary focus of our work has been the conservation of agricultural biodiversity to enhance the livelihoods and food security of the marginalised farming community.

Biodiversity does not merely comprise the genetic components of diverse species; it also includes the relationships among plants, animals, micro-organisms, soil and water, which give rise to diverse ecological and cultural systems.

Organisms are not merely characterized by their genotype (the sum of all inherited traits characterized by genes), but also by their phenotype (all the traits that become visible in the life of an individual organism as a result of the interaction between inherited traits and the environment).

India is a large country with highly diverse ecosystems. Ecosystem diversity leads to diverse farming systems—different ways in which land, water and biodiversity are managed and different linkages between livestock, trees and crops. Farming systems are built on the distinctive knowledge of ecosystems and biodiversity that farming communities have, as well as on the conservation strategies these communities have evolved to ensure sustainable use of natural resources. The species diversity and varietal diversity within species that continue to exist despite threats from erosion are a result of the cultural practices and knowledge systems of millions of unknown and invisible farmers.

Finally, most species in Indian farming systems satisfy more than one need or function. Rice is not just food for people, for example. Its straw provides food for animals and the soil, too.