Genetic Uniformity, Biodiversity Collapse and Agronomic Risk Dashboard (2025)

Visualizing the contraction of crop diversity, corporate control, and the systemic risks of genetic uniformity in global agriculture.
Source: USDA, FAO, Seed Savers Exchange, IFPRI, IPCC, BlackRock, TNFD (2025)
Loss of US Vegetable Varieties
-94%
1903-1983, continued decline to 2023
Global Veg Seed Market Control
75%+
By <10 multinational firms (2025)
India Wheat: Top 10 Cultivars
80%+
Of acreage, 2025
US Corn: BSSS Germplasm Share
90%+
Of commercial hybrids, 2025
Biotech Traits: Climate Focus
<10%
Of new proprietary trait releases
Farmer-Reported “Locked In”
87%
US, 2024 (tech/chemical regime)
Vegetable Variety Loss (US, 1903-2023)
USDA/Seed Savers Exchange data
Trait Focus in Proprietary Breeding
Herbicide/insect vs. climate traits (2005)
Yield Volatility: Uniform vs. Diverse Systems
Simulated yield volatility under climate stress (IFPRI 2024)
Key Genetic Bottlenecks and Examples
Crop/RegionGenetic BottleneckSystemic Risk
US CornBSSS germplasm (90%+ hybrids)Leaf blight, pest adaptation, climate shocks
India WheatTop 10 cultivars (80%+ acreage)Rust, drought, heat risk
Ethiopia SorghumLoss of 70% landracesYield collapse, food security
Mexico Maize60%+ native variety declineLoss of local adaptation, resilience
Policy & Legal Drivers of Uniformity
DriverMechanismImpact
UPOV 1991/DUS StandardsRequire uniformity/stability for registrationExcludes landraces, evolutionary populations
Seed Law HarmonizationDonor-driven, criminalizes uncertified seedDisplaces community-managed systems
IP Regimes and TUAsBan seed saving, participatory breedingLoss of evolutionary selection/adaptation
Bundled Input RegimesTrait stacks tied to proprietary chemicalsInput dependency, reduced flexibility
Consequences for Resilience and Risk
Risk/ConsequenceDescription2025 Example
Pathogen/Pest OutbreaksRapid adaptation to uniform defensesPalmer amaranth, 40M acres infested (US)
Yield Volatility25-37% higher in uniform systems (SSP2-4.5)US Midwest, India Punjab, Brazil Cerrado
Climate VulnerabilityUniform systems lack adaptive traits2022-2024 droughts: hybrid yield collapse
Loss of Farmer InnovationLegal exclusion from breeding/selectionPPB barley outperforms hybrids (Ethiopia)
Financial Systemic RiskHidden exposure in ag portfoliosBlackRock, TNFD flag genetic diversity
Best Practices for Biodiversity and Resilience
  • Monitor and disclose genetic diversity as a material risk (TNFD, BlackRock, IPCC)
  • Reform seed laws to allow registration of heterogeneous and farmer-bred varieties
  • Invest in public/participatory breeding for climate adaptation and local resilience
  • Promote decentralized, evolutionary breeding models in marginal agroecologies
  • Decouple seed certification from strict DUS standards to enable diversity
  • Encourage bundled trait/IP reform to reduce input dependency and lock-in
[2] USDA, [3] FAO, [4] Seed Savers Exchange, [5] IFPRI, [6] IPCC, [7] BlackRock, [8] TNFD (2025)

Genetic Uniformity, Biodiversity Collapse, and Agronomic Risk