Exploring the role of crop diversity on the functioning of agroecosystems has significant implications for agriculture. ‘Pioneer farmers’, on Nicaragua’s agricultural frontier are adapting their cropping systems to new agroecological conditions including steep slopes, heavy rainfall and market inaccessibility which characterise the region. Farmers report that integration of a greater diversity of crops has regenerated previously degraded land and improved performance of their agroecosystems.

Working in partnership with Bioversity International and local NGOs in Waslala, the role of crop diversity on agroecosystem function was explored together with farmers in their fields, using a participatory joint learning approach. Results show that farmers in Waslala are managing highly diverse systems which enable year-around dietary diversity, food security and income stability.