Agricultural lands that produce food, fibre and biofuels to sustain the human population represent the most widespread land use on Earth. Conserving global biodiversity will depend, largely, on how effectively species, communities and ecological processes are sustained in agricultural landscapes worldwide. The authors outline concepts for the conservation of biodiversity in agricultural landscapes, recognising that agricultural land uses are diverse and shape landscapes in different ways. A fundamental requirement for conservation is provision of suitable habitat in, and among, farm properties. They highlight the importance of a landscape perspective for conservation that recognises both the spatial heterogeneity and temporal changes that occur in agricultural landscapes. The land sparing – land sharing paradigm provides valuable insight into the inherent trade-offs between agricultural production and nature conservation. Finally, effective integration of agriculture and nature conservation must recognise the diverse stakeholders, including the people who live in these landscapes and their wellbeing.