Agricultural systems all over the world are key for supplying vital goods such as food, fibre and energy from biomass. These agricultural systems form the foundation of human material well-being. However, increasing intensification, monocultures and overexploitation have often led to the serious degradation of the ecosystems upon which agricultural systems are embedded. Therefore, the functioning of these systems and their constituent biodiversity are at risk. Designing more sustainable agricultural systems requires continued research on land use strategies and management that focuses not only on the provision of agricultural commodities but also on the supply of non-agricultural ecosystem services, the conservation of biodiversity and the stable conditions needed for ecosystem functioning. Agricultural land uses are driven by anthropogenic and natural factors and show site-specific advantages and disadvantages. Agricultural activities have the potential to enhance the provision of specific kinds of ecosystem services and biodiversity, while mismanagement often leads to degraded services, declines in biodiversity and degraded ecosystem conditions.