Using the French agricultural landscape as a case study, this paper uses feedback loops between bird population dynamics (as a proxy for overall biodiversity) and farmer decision-making processes influenced by pesticide use and subsidies. The model projects a significant decline in biodiversity under a business-as-usual scenario, primarily driven by land consolidation. Pesticide reduction initially boosts biodiversity but ultimately leads to decreased crop yields and financial stress on small farms, accelerating land consolidation and negating initial biodiversity gains. This highlights the urgent need for effective policy measures, given the well-documented role of biodiversity in societal well-being. To address this challenge, the paper analyses the potential impact of two policy interventions: pesticide reduction and subsidies targeted at small farmers. Both policies demonstrate their capacity to positively impact biodiversity, although through different mechanisms.The most effective approach appears to be a combined strategy that incorporates both pesticide reduction and targeted subsidies for small farmers. By mitigating the economic pressures on small farms, subsidies can help maintain a more diverse agricultural landscape, thereby balancing the benefits of pesticide reduction with economic stability for small farms. Full paper available here.
