Climate Change

Agroforestry is a top climate solution

 

Incremental change is no longer enough. It’s time for systems-level change. As stewards of photosynthesis, farmers have the power to pull carbon down out of the atmosphere. Research shows that millions of acres of agricultural land in the Midwest could not only be more profitable for farmers, but, by adopting agroforestry, farmers have the ability to transform American agriculture into a climate solution rather than a source of emissions.

Our goal is to help farmers and landowners harness the power of agroforestry as a natural climate solution.

Agroforestry is an important solution not only to drawdown carbon but to build our soil resilience to capture water and slow runoff.

1 acre of alley cropping sequesters .65 tons of carbon per year

 

Alley cropping offers a viable option for farmers and landowners interested in adopting carbon sequestration and conservation practices while maintaining working lands. Learn about alley cropping and other ways of implementing agroforestry on your property through these downloadable infographics. 

a hazelnut bush in summer

Project Drawdown ranks agroforestry as a top climate solution

Multistrata agroforestry systems mimic natural forests in structure. Multiple layers of trees and crops achieve high rates of both carbon sequestration and food production. Read more from Project Drawdown, a nonprofit organization that researches climate solutions.

Want to learn more about agroforestry?

 

Take the Course: Agroecology & Climate Change in Agroforestry

In this course, we review the fundamentals of agroforestry management. We explore how climate change is affecting agricultural ecosystems and how agroforestry can contribute to climate change adaptation and mitigation.
 

three apprentices and a farmer sit on the porch of a white house

10 steps to make hazelnuts a common crop

 

Hazelnuts can sequester over a ton of carbon per acre in woody biomass alone over their first five years. Plus, they have the potential to replace soybeans as a staple source of protein and oil. Find out what needs to happen to launch the hazelnut industry in the Midwest and make tasty carbon-sequestering “soy on trees” common throughout our region.

 

 

U.S. agriculture has massive potential to sequester carbon from the atmosphere if farmers adopt agroforestry.