Carbon Contributions
Inga Alley Cropping
Agroforestry to advance food security and rural livelihoods
Our solution's stage of development:
GrowthOur solution:
Slash & Burn destroys rainforests sending CO2 into the atmosphere. Inga Alley Cropping is the sustainable solution for tropical family farms.
Our pitch:
Inga Alley Cropping is the revolutionary alternative to Slash and Burn. Developed by Inga Foundation’s Director, Mike Hands, in partnership with Cambridge University, Inga Alley Cropping is based on over a decade of research on agroforestry systems. Of the different potential options investigated by Mike Hands, the only sustainable system to emerge from years of scientific research was Inga's system of Alley Cropping, which uses nitrogen-fixing tree species from the genus Inga. The Inga trees maintain soil fertility and good harvests year after year, breaking the cycle of Slash and Burn and allowing families to gain long-term food security on one piece of land. Inga Alleys out-compete the aggressive invasive weeds which dominate the farmers' plots, saving weeding. In their 2nd year, the pruned Inga trees' foliage & trunk provides mulch for the Alley & firewood for the families' kitchens-again saving native trees from being harvested. This closed system is a revolutionary cycle--sustainable, organic food for the families, cash crops like pepper & pineapple--all grown organically. A system which also protects water sources, reefs, & prevents erosion.
The problem:
N/A
This information was not requested for Solve proposals at the time this solution was submitted.
Why our solution will solve the problem:
N/A
This information was not requested for Solve proposals at the time this solution was submitted.
Our organization:
Non-ProfitHow long we have been working on our solution:
1 yearHow long it will take to develop a pilot:
1-3 monthsHow long it will take to scale beyond our pilot:
1-3 monthsSolution Team
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Mike Hands Founder & Director, Inga Foundation
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Our Solution
Inga Alley Cropping