Agriculture
Monoculture
The agricultural practice of growing a single crop species over a large area. Monocultures maximize efficiency but increase vulnerability to pests, diseases, and environmental changes.
Biological Context
Monocultures simplify ecosystems, eliminating the checks and balances of diverse communities. They require external inputs (pesticides, fertilizers) to replace ecosystem services. The Irish Potato Famine resulted from monoculture vulnerability.
Business Application
Business monocultures: over-reliance on single products, customers, or strategies. Monocultures are efficient in stable conditions but catastrophically vulnerable to change. Portfolio diversity is the antidote to organizational monoculture.