Agricultural landscape structure and biological invasion spread: evaluation of land consolidation policies

Worldwide land consolidation policies have been used during decades to improve efficiency in crop production through the consolidation of fragmented agricultural lands. At a landscape scale the effect of these policies that promote higher clustering of homogeneous crops is questionable, as spatial patterns influence the probability of exotic pests arriving and spreading across the landscape. This paper analyses the resistance to invasions in a landscape characterized by unexhausted increasing returns in farming activities, which promote spatial concentration. We derive the optimal distribution of agricultural activities across space, and characterize the optimal landscape structure to prevent biological invasions.