Companion planting is a horticultural technique

Position 1: Growing interest in sustainable food systems has therefore prompted a renewed scientific focus on optimising companion-planting combinations through controlled field trials.

Position 2: Certain pairings exploit biochemical interactions, such as the release of volatile compounds by marigolds that repel aphids from neighbouring vegetable crops.

Position 3: These ecological relationships collectively reduce the need for synthetic pesticides and fertilisers, lowering both production costs and environmental impact.

Position 4: Companion planting is a horticultural technique in which different plant species are cultivated in close proximity to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.

Position 5: Other combinations improve soil fertility, as nitrogen-fixing legumes enrich the substrate available to heavy-feeding plants grown alongside them.