— Written by Shayna Berglas

The Tree That Grows Where Others Can’t

Agroforestry is a land management system that integrates trees, crops, and livestock in a sustainable and productive manner. It offers a range of environmental benefits, including soil conservation, carbon sequestration, biodiversity enhancement, and renewable energy production. One promising tree species for agroforestry is pongamia (Millettia pinnata), which has numerous environmental benefits.

The native Indian species is also widely cultivated in Southeast Asia, Australia, and parts of Africa. and provides habitat for a wide variety of wildlife, including birds, insects, and small mammals. Pongamia trees are excellent carbon sinks, with the potential to sequester up to 50 tons of carbon per hectare over 20 years. The trees store carbon in their biomass and in the soil through their extensive root systems, which can penetrate up to 15 meters deep. This makes them an important tool in mitigating climate change.

But the benefits don’t stop there — pongamia trees are also nitrogen-fixing, which means they can improve soil fertility by converting atmospheric nitrogen into a form that plants can use. They also have deep taproots that help break up compacted soil and improve its structure. This makes them ideal for reforestation and restoration projects in degraded or depleted lands. When intercropped with food crops, they provide shade and nitrogen fixation, while also producing a valuable source of income from the sale of seeds and oil. This can help to diversify and enhance the resilience of agricultural systems, while also providing a sustainable source of livelihoods for farmers.

Clean Crop: The Tech in Action

Terviva is dedicated to promoting sustainable agriculture and combating climate change through agroforestry and the cultivation of pongamia trees. The startup is growing the world’s most scalable, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly source of oil and protein.

Terviva's mission is to use these trees to create sustainable and regenerative agricultural systems that can help combat climate change and promote food security. They work with farmers, landowners, and communities to establish pongamia plantations that can provide a range of economic, environmental, and social benefits. Between now and 2040, they plan to plant 40 million trees - that’s 40 million tonnes of carbon stored over 20 years.

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