INRAE and CNRS have conducted a study of 150 grasslands in temperate zones to identify ecological thresholds beyond which changes in biodiversity can lead to the overall dysfunction of these ecosystems. The study analysed plant biodiversity, agricultural practices and climate data over 13 years. The results, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, show that above a fertilisation level of 80 kg of nitrogen per hectare per year, grassland species lose their ability to coexist. This causes an acute decline in the diversity and functioning of these grasslands, making them extremely vulnerable to climate hazards. Understanding these thresholds would enable farmers to adjust their practices to balance grassland use with the preservation of the ecosystem services they provide, while also maintaining ecosystem stability amid climate hazards.

A sweeping new review reveals how satellites are helping scientists track a quiet but widespread shift in global agriculture: the abandonment of cropland.