As the fight against climate change intensifies, a farming practice called agroforestry has the potential to improve food security while increasing resilience to global warming. Agroforestry is the integration of trees and shrubs with crops and livestock systems, and when done correctly, it can boost field crop yields, diversify income, and store carbon in the earth to mitigate climate change. One reason is agroforestry is so effective is due to the nitrogen-rich leaves that fall from trees during the rainy season. These leaves fall to the soil, and fertilize crops naturally at a useful time without competing for light, nutrients or water. Now backed by a body of research, agroforestry has become a centerpiece to FAO’s sustainable farming guide and will especially important for developing countries where resources are less plentiful.
Planting trees can improve food security in developing countries
More of Today's Solutions
MIT to publish free plans online for a cheap emergency ventilator
Imagine a class project from over a decade ago ended up holding the solution to a global issue? Well that's the case for a ...
Read MoreThe case for growing nectar-rich plants in your garden this spring
The nectar created by flowering plants is a significant food source for many of the critters we share our environment with. Those of us ...
Read MoreNew York schools commit to nurturing mental health through mindful breathing
Meet Noah Hill, a third-grader at Brooklyn's Dr. Ronald E. McNair Public School 5. He's discovered a simple yet significant technique for finding peace ...
Read MoreThe surprising power of penguin poop: how guano-made clouds may help cool the...
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In the chilly heart of Antarctica, a bunch of tuxedoed waddlers may be doing more for the planet ...
Read More
