Trees on Farms

Global food systems rely on chemical fertilizers, hormones and a limited number of crops and livestock to mass-produce food for nearly 8 billion people around the world. 

Intensive, chemical-based agriculture degrades landscapes, reduces biodiversity and accelerates climate change. Three quarters of agricultural genetic diversity has already been lost. This lack of diversity puts existing crops at greater risk of disease and die-off.

Transitioning to sustainable food production means re-designing agricultural systems to work with nature, not against it.  Such a shift would allow humans to co-exist with natural ecosystems, plants and animals while also feeding themselves.    

Agroforestry happens when trees are intentionally planted on farmland. For example, farmers may plant poplar trees in their rice paddies or apple trees in their cow pasture. The farm pictured here is growing rubber trees and bananas together. 

Planting trees in agroforestry systems stores carbon and regulates the water cycle. Native tree species also promote biodiversity, making the farm and its surrounding ecosystem healthier and more resilient to climate change.

About 500 million farmers rely on fruits and vegetables grown from agroforestry systems to meet their daily nutrition needs. Tree leaves, fruits, nuts and occasionally bark can also be used as feed for livestock such as cows and sheep. 

In addition to ecosystem services that improve crop yields such as shade and soil improvement, many trees produce valuable products. More than 1.2 billion farmers earn additional income from tree products like wood and nuts. The woman pictured grows fruits on her pig farm. 

Alder trees and tea plants like those pictured would require very different conditions than a coffee tree and soybean agroforestry farm. 

...in supporting rural communities and accelerating the transition to more sustainable global food supply chains.