By planting to attract beneficial insects and to detract from others it eliminates the need for using man made chemicals and insect repellents, a process often known as companion planting.
A healthy soil full of active fungi and microbial life, combined with a diverse crop (making use of companion planting), suppresses weeds and pests naturally and retains rainwater.
Techniques such as crop rotation, companion planting (also known as intercropping or mixed cropping), and the selective breeding of pest-resistant cultivars have a long history.
