Profitable and sustainable farms rely on goods and services from nature such as soil, water, air, nutrient cyling, pollination and pest control. These goods and services are often called ecosystem services. These can best be described as "the things that ecosystems provide, which humans benefit from, both directly and indirectly."

Biodiversity (the diversity of all living things) is essential to maintain these ecosystem services as the picture to the right indicates. “When fungi, worms and bacteria transform the raw “ingredients” of sunlight, carbon and nitrogen into fertile soil this transformation is an ecosystem service. However, if we allow natural assets to decline, so do the benefits. Conversely, if we look after and maintain our natural assets, we will benefit from greater returns.” (Natural Assets, 2003).

Without biodiversity, there would be no ecosystem services, and vice versa. For example, soil (which allows us to grow food) cannot be formed without the insects, fungi, bacteria and plant matter that act together to create it. As another example, many animals, including humans, are dependent on photosynthesis, clean water and clean air to survive. These are things that ecosystems provide.