We seem to think that expanding agricultural productivity will require more and more chemicals, and methods that are detrimental to natural ecology. There are, however, all kinds of efforts underway to capitalize on the efficient and eco-conscious use of agriculture without destroying Mother Earth.

Journalist Zach Zorich reports, “According to Archaeologist John Hart, Iroquois farmers may have been able to maintain high soil nitrogen levels because they grew corn, beans, and squash together and let the plant remains decay back into the soil after the vegetables had been harvested. While plowing releases nitrogen into the air and causes it to oxidize, Iroquoian farming methods disturbed the soil to a lesser degree, rendering fertilizers unnecessary.“ The study determined that the Iroquoian “maize had been grown in soils that were as fertile as those that had been plowed and fertilized using livestock … Native American farmers understood their crops and understood the need for maintaining soil quality … knowledge they used to support villages of 1,000 to 2,000 people.”

No extra chemicals necessary; minimal environmental disruption. Maybe we could learn something from Native American farmers.

Reporters John Flesher and Tammy Webber looked into solar energy, “Solar is a renewable energy source that can help wean the world off fossil fuels that produce greenhouse gases. But it also could benefit the environment and economy in ways not as well known … advocates see opportunities to diversify crop production and boost landowner income, while repairing ecological damage to ground plowed under or paved over.”

“’Agrivoltaics,’ or growing produce beneath panels, is especially promising in hot, arid regions, say experts who have planted cherry tomatoes and peppers beneath them at the University of Arizona’s Biosphere 2 laboratory … Those crops usually match or exceed ones in a traditional environment, according to the team’s findings. With less direct sunlight, they lose less water to evaporation, reducing irrigation demand. And the plants keep panels cooler, boosting performance.” (Climate change anyone?) … “While commercial prospects for agrivoltaics are unknown, scientists say it’s certain that solar grounds are ideal for native grasses and flowers that draw pollinators, many facing extinction.”

“A team led by Oregon State University researcher Maggie Graham reported this year that bees and other insects visit plants partly or totally shaded by panels. They also may pollinate crops in nearby fields, boosting yields.”

“Compared to farmland, solar sites planted with pollinator-friendly native vegetation would provide a three-fold increase in habitat quality for pollinators, a recent Argonne study concluded. Pollinator-friendly sites would have two-thirds more carbon storage potential, nearly one-fifth less water runoff and 95% less soil erosion than traditionally cultivated land, it said.”

Reporters Matthias Schrader and Dana Beltaji observe, “Solar panels atop crops has been gaining traction in recent years as incentives and demand for clean energy skyrocket. Researchers look into making the best use of agricultural land, and farmers seek ways to shield their crops from blistering heat, keep in moisture and potentially increase yields.

In addition to shielding plants from solar stress, the shade could mean “… water from precipitation lasts longer, leaving more in the soil …” and that they “… stay healthier and are less susceptible to diseases,” researcher Bernhard Gruber said.

Agriculture is being beset by a world of woes, but some innovations may help us all get through them.

Additional information:

John Flesher and Tammy Webber, Bees, Sheep, Crops: Solar Developers Tout Multiple Benefits, November 4, 2021, Associated Press

Matthias Schrader and Dana Beltaji, Hops for Beer Flourish Under Solar Panels. They’re Not the Only Crop Thriving In the Shade, July 21, 2023, Associated Press

Zach Zorich, Maize Maintenance, Archaeology Magazine, January/February 2024, December 14, 2023