July 17, 2024 | SeedWorld |
The University of New Hampshire (UNH) has received a $10 million grant from the USDA to spearhead sustainable climate-smart agriculture in New England. The project, called ADAPT (Promoting Climate-Smart Sustainable Agriculture in New England through Regionally Adapted Agroforestry Systems), aims to enhance food production while preserving carbon-rich forests, which are crucial for mitigating climate change. Led by UNH's Heidi Asbjornsen, the five-year initiative will explore agroforestry models, including silvopastures, polycultures, and forest farming, to increase local food production by 15%, boost carbon sequestration, and create new agroforestry markets. Collaboration with Dartmouth and Yale will expand research and education in agroforestry.