Monoculture is widely used in modern agriculture. Explain why farmers choose to grow crops as a monoculture and describe one negative effect this practice has on the surrounding ecosystem.

Cambridge International IGCSE Biology (0610) — 20.1 Food supply · Explain · 4 marks · View as Markdown

Written & reviewed by James Millett — Biology (Imperial College London), PGCE Science (University of Cambridge).

Model answer (4 marks)

Monoculture maximises efficiency because only one crop species is grown, so all farming activities can be standardised.

Standardised machinery, planting schedules and harvesting methods reduce labour and equipment costs.

Uniform pesticide and fertiliser application is easier and more cost‑effective.

However, monoculture reduces plant biodiversity, which disrupts food chains and lowers populations of insects and birds that rely on the lost plant species.

Examiner tips

  • Use the exact phrases from the mark scheme – ‘maximises efficiency’, ‘standardised machinery’, ‘reduces biodiversity’.
  • Show the cause–effect link: efficiency → standardisation → yield, and biodiversity loss → food‑chain disruption.
  • Keep each point brief and to the point – one sentence per mark.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing monoculture with polyculture or mixed cropping.
  • Failing to mention the loss of biodiversity as the negative effect.
  • Using vague terms like ‘more crops’ instead of ‘only one species’.

Mark scheme (4 marks)

  1. Monoculture maximises efficiency / simplicity of farming
  2. Only one species is grown, so machinery / harvesting / pesticide use can be standardised / applied uniformly, increasing yield
  3. Monoculture reduces biodiversity because only one species of plant is grown
  4. Loss of plant diversity disrupts food chains / reduces populations of other species (e.g. insects, birds) that depend on the removed plant species

Key terms in this question

monoculture

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