IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jlands/v14y2025i4p838-d1632633.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Enhancing Climate Resilience and Food Security in Greece Through Agricultural Biodiversity

Author

Listed:
  • Efstratios Loizou

    (Department of Management Science and Technology, University of Western Macedonia, 50100 Kozani, Greece)

  • Konstantinos Spinthiropoulos

    (Department of Management Science and Technology, University of Western Macedonia, 50100 Kozani, Greece)

  • Stavros Kalogiannidis

    (Department of Business Administration, University of Western Macedonia, 51100 Grevena, Greece)

  • Fotios Chatzitheodoridis

    (Department of Management Science and Technology, University of Western Macedonia, 50100 Kozani, Greece)

  • Dimitrios Kalfas

    (Department of Agriculture, University of Western Macedonia, 53100 Florina, Greece)

  • George Tzilantonis

    (Department of Management Science and Technology, University of Western Macedonia, 50100 Kozani, Greece)

Abstract

This study examined how agricultural biodiversity can build climate change resilience and food security in Greece. The aims of this study were to identify and examine the role of genetic, species, ecosystem, and functional diversity in enhancing agricultural resilience against climate volatility. Data were collected from 384 agricultural specialists in Greece using a quantitative, cross-sectional survey technique. The self-administered questionnaire elicited information on the perceived effectiveness of different types of biodiversity in sustaining yield stability for crops, pest and disease control, soil conservation, and nutrient cycling. The hypotheses of this study were tested using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis. The findings revealed that genetic diversity decreases crop yield risks, species diversity lowers pest and disease vulnerability, ecosystem diversity impacts to soil and water conservation, and functional diversity can optimize nutrient cycling and ecosystem services. The regression analysis was able to explain 62.1% of the variability in agricultural resilience, underlining the importance of the conservation of biological diversity in the provision of food. This study points to the need for bio-diversity management in agriculture to address the impacts of climate change and support productivity in food production.

Suggested Citation

  • Efstratios Loizou & Konstantinos Spinthiropoulos & Stavros Kalogiannidis & Fotios Chatzitheodoridis & Dimitrios Kalfas & George Tzilantonis, 2025. "Enhancing Climate Resilience and Food Security in Greece Through Agricultural Biodiversity," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-24, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:14:y:2025:i:4:p:838-:d:1632633
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/4/838/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/4/838/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ashrita Saran & Sabina Singh & Neha Gupta & Sujata Chodankar Walke & Ranjana Rao & Christine Simiyu & Suchi Malhotra & Avni Mishra & Ranjitha Puskur & Edoardo Masset & Howard White & Hugh Sharma Waddi, 2024. "Interventions promoting resilience through climate smart agricultural practices for women farmers: A systematic review," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 20(3), September.
    2. Lyudmila Simova-Stoilova & Valya Vassileva & Urs Feller, 2016. "Selection and Breeding of Suitable Crop Genotypes for Drought and Heat Periods in a Changing Climate: Which Morphological and Physiological Properties Should Be Considered?," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 6(2), pages 1-19, June.
    3. Stavros Kalogiannidis & Christina-Ioanna Papadopoulou & Efstratios Loizou & Fotios Chatzitheodoridis, 2023. "Risk, Vulnerability, and Resilience in Agriculture and Their Impact on Sustainable Rural Economy Development: A Case Study of Greece," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-20, June.
    4. Bruna Moreira & Alexandre Gonçalves & Luís Pinto & Miguel A. Prieto & Márcio Carocho & Cristina Caleja & Lillian Barros, 2024. "Intercropping Systems: An Opportunity for Environment Conservation within Nut Production," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-23, July.
    5. Emile A. Frison & Jeremy Cherfas & Toby Hodgkin, 2011. "Agricultural Biodiversity Is Essential for a Sustainable Improvement in Food and Nutrition Security," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 3(1), pages 1-16, January.
    6. Nolwazi Z. Khumalo & Melusi Sibanda & Lelethu Mdoda, 2024. "Implications of a Climate-Smart Approach to Food and Income Security for Urban Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-23, February.
    7. Elena Georgopoulou & Nikos Gakis & Dimitris Voloudakis & Markos Daskalakis & Yannis Sarafidis & Dimitris P. Lalas & Sevastianos Mirasgedis, 2024. "Effectiveness of Options for the Adaptation of Crop Farming to Climate Change in a Country of the European South," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-25, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Matthew Chidozie Ogwu & Enoch Akwasi Kosoe, 2025. "Integrating Green Infrastructure into Sustainable Agriculture to Enhance Soil Health, Biodiversity, and Microclimate Resilience," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-31, April.
    2. Fábio T. F. Silva & Alexandre Szklo & Amanda Vinhoza & Ana Célia Nogueira & André F. P. Lucena & Antônio Marcos Mendonça & Camilla Marcolino & Felipe Nunes & Francielle M. Carvalho & Isabela Tagomori , 2022. "Inter-sectoral prioritization of climate technologies: insights from a Technology Needs Assessment for mitigation in Brazil," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 27(7), pages 1-39, October.
    3. Silvia Scaramuzzi & Sara Gabellini & Giovanni Belletti & Andrea Marescotti, 2021. "Agrobiodiversity-Oriented Food Systems between Public Policies and Private Action: A Socio-Ecological Model for Sustainable Territorial Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-32, November.
    4. Bourceret, Amélie & Accatino, Francesco & Robert, Corinne, 2024. "A modeling framework of a territorial socio-ecosystem to study the trajectories of change in agricultural phytosanitary practices," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 494(C).
    5. Zewen Hei & Huimin Xiang & Jiaen Zhang & Kaiming Liang & Jiawen Zhong & Meijuan Li & Xiaoqiao Ren, 2021. "Intercropping of Rice and Water Mimosa ( Neptunia oleracea Lour.): A Novel Model to Control Pests and Diseases and Improve Yield and Grain Quality while Reducing N Fertilizer Application," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-17, December.
    6. Andrieu, N. & Blundo-Canto, G. & Cruz-Garcia, G.S., 2019. "Trade-offs between food security and forest exploitation by mestizo households in Ucayali, Peruvian Amazon," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 173(C), pages 64-77.
    7. Philippe Etienne & Sylvain Diquelou & Marion Prudent & Christophe Salon & Anne Maillard & Alain Ourry, 2018. "Macro and Micronutrient Storage in Plants and Their Remobilization When Facing Scarcity: The Case of Drought," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 8(1), pages 1-17, January.
    8. Stan Selbonne & Loïc Guindé & François Causeret & Pierre Chopin & Jorge Sierra & Régis Tournebize & Jean-Marc Blazy, 2023. "How to Measure the Performance of Farms with Regard to Climate-Smart Agriculture Goals? A Set of Indicators and Its Application in Guadeloupe," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-21, January.
    9. Maria Gialeli & Andreas Y. Troumbis & Constantinos Giaginis & Sousana K. Papadopoulou & Ioannis Antoniadis & Georgios K. Vasios, 2023. "The Global Growth of ‘Sustainable Diet’ during Recent Decades, a Bibliometric Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-23, August.
    10. Heather E. Schier & Kathrin A. Eliot & Sterling A. Herron & Lauren K. Landfried & Zoë Migicovsky & Matthew J. Rubin & Allison J. Miller, 2019. "Comparative Analysis of Perennial and Annual Phaseolus Seed Nutrient Concentrations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-18, May.
    11. Yunan Lin & Hao Wang & Yanqing Chen & Jiarui Tan & Jingpeng Hong & Shen Yan & Yongsheng Cao & Wei Fang, 2023. "Modelling Distributions of Asian and African Rice Based on MaxEnt," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-11, February.
    12. Jana Poláková, 2018. "Sustainability—Risk—Resilience: How Does the Case of the Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions Measure up?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-15, May.
    13. Joachim Binam & Frank Place & Antoine Kalinganire & Sigue Hamade & Moussa Boureima & Abasse Tougiani & Joseph Dakouo & Bayo Mounkoro & Sanogo Diaminatou & Marcel Badji & Mouhamadou Diop & Andre Babou , 2015. "Effects of farmer managed natural regeneration on livelihoods in semi-arid West Africa," Environmental Economics and Policy Studies, Springer;Society for Environmental Economics and Policy Studies - SEEPS, vol. 17(4), pages 543-575, October.
    14. Jacques Fils Pierre & Luis Latournerie-Moreno & René Garruña-Hernández & Krista L. Jacobsen & Carrie A. M. Laboski & Lucila de Lourdes Salazar-Barrientos & Esaú Ruiz-Sánchez, 2021. "Farmer Perceptions of Adopting Novel Legumes in Traditional Maize-Based Farming Systems in the Yucatan Peninsula," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-16, October.
    15. Giulia Conversa & Corrado Lazzizera & Anna Bonasia & Paolo La Rotonda & Antonio Elia, 2020. "Nutritional Characterization of Two Rare Landraces of Turnip ( Brassica rapa . var. rapa ) Tops and Their On-Farm Conservation in Foggia Province," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-14, May.
    16. Béné, Christophe & Oosterveer, Peter & Lamotte, Lea & Brouwer, Inge D. & de Haan, Stef & Prager, Steve D. & Talsma, Elise F. & Khoury, Colin K., 2019. "When food systems meet sustainability – Current narratives and implications for actions," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 116-130.
    17. Huet, E.K. & Adam, M. & Giller, K.E. & Descheemaeker, K., 2020. "Diversity in perception and management of farming risks in southern Mali," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    18. Paola A. Deligios & Gianluca Carboni & Roberta Farci & Stefania Solinas & Luigi Ledda, 2019. "The Influence of Herbicide Underdosage on the Composition and Diversity of Weeds in Oilseed Rape ( Brassica napus L. var. oleifera D.C.) Mediterranean Fields," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-18, March.
    19. Joachim N. Binam & Frank Place & Arinloye A. Djalal & Antoine Kalinganire, 2017. "Effects of local institutions on the adoption of agroforestry innovations: evidence of farmer managed natural regeneration and its implications for rural livelihoods in the Sahel," Agricultural and Food Economics, Springer;Italian Society of Agricultural Economics (SIDEA), vol. 5(1), pages 1-28, December.
    20. Sognigbe N’Danikou & Raymond Sognon Vodouhe & Mauricio R. Bellon & Amadou Sidibé & Harouna Coulibaly, 2017. "Foraging Is Determinant to Improve Smallholders’ Food Security in Rural Areas in Mali, West Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-18, November.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:14:y:2025:i:4:p:838-:d:1632633. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.