Agroforestry: the most climate-friendly and biodiversity-positive agriculture technique is growing

Ever drink 'shade grown' coffee or eat 'bird friendly' chocolate? Then you've enjoyed the fruits of agroforestry, an ancient agricultural technique practiced on a huge scale across the world which also sequesters a staggering amount of carbon from the atmosphere.

Agroforestry is poised for growth as the world searches for solutions to the climate crisis, and this one is special because it also produces grains/fruits/vegetables/livestock, builds soil and water tables, and is highly biodiversity-positive.

Today we discuss its power and promise with three guests: Mongabay's agroforestry series editor Erik Hoffner; the director the Center for Agroforestry at the University of Missouri, Sarah Lovell, who discusses agroforestry’s history and extent in the United States, plus what the Biden Administration might do with it; and a true icon in the field, Roger Leakey, an author, researcher, and vice president of the International Tree Foundation. Leakey explains how helps build food security, boosts biodiversity, and reduces conditions that lead to deforestation and migration.

Mongabay’s entire series on agroforestry can be viewed here, but here are some features discussed on the show:

• “Investors say agroforestry isn’t just climate friendly — it’s also profitable”
• “An ancient ‘indigenous technology’ with wide modern appeal”
• “Trees are much more than the lungs of the world”
• “Agroforestry: An increasingly popular solution for a hot, hungry world”

Episode artwork: chocolate thrives under a mix of fruit and timber trees, image via World Agroforestry.

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