Earth Observation based multi-scale analysis of crop diversity in the European Union: first insights for agro-environmental policies

Abstract

To understand the resilience of farms and the agricultural sector, as well as the provision of ecosystem services, we need to characterize and quantify crop diversity. Using a 10m resolution satellite-derived product, we created datasets of crop diversity across spatial and administrative scales for 27 EU countries and the UK in 2018. We define local crop diversity, or $\alpha$-diversity, at a 1km scale, corresponding to large or clusters of small-to-medium-sized farms. $\alpha$ crop diversities range from 2.3 to 4.4, with higher levels in systems with many small farms (averaging less than 10 ha). $\gamma$-diversity, the number and area of crops grown independently of location, increases from 2.85 at 1km to 3.86 at 10km, and levels off at 4.27 at 100km. These levels are higher than those reported in the U.S., possibly due to differences in farm structure and practices. $\beta$-diversity, the ratio of $\gamma$ and $\alpha$ diversities, measures the difference between agroecosystems and ranges from 1.2 to 2.3 across EU countries. We classify countries' crop diversities into four groups based on the magnitude and change of $\gamma$-diversity across scales, with implications for regional to national agro-environmental policy recommendations. Continental Copernicus crop type maps will enable temporal comparisons, and exploring ecosystem co-variates will deepen our understanding of the link between crop diversity and agro-ecosystem services.