Integrating promising NUS in farming systems can reduce the build-up of pests and diseases when they are grown in rotation with the main crops. Depending on their characteristics, NUS can also increase soil fertility, prevent soil erosion, reduce evaporation and suppress weed growth. They can be more resistant to biotic stresses and provide dependable harvests under unfavourable climatic conditions or depleted soils. For instance, DeFries etal. (