Acorn Agroforestry: A solution whose time has come

The core goal of Manzanita Cooperative was to promote the adoption by farms of climate-adapted foods that have evolved in the places where those farms are located, instead of relying on the relatively tiny number of crops that are currently grown commercially.

Today, all over the world, only 174 species are farmed commercially out of more than 30,000 known species that have historically fed humanity. Less than 10 species currently take more than 80% of all farmlands and four - wheat, rice, corn, and soy - provide the absolute majority of calories and plant based protein consumed by humans. With crop failures for all four of these projected to increase rapidly as climate change progresses, diversifying our food systems is the single best chance humanity has to avoid mass starvation.

This white paper, produced by Dr. Christopher Hendrickson and Micki Palmersheim of Manzanita Cooperative, explores the climate impacts of one such shift. Transitioning to agroforestry systems centered on the restoration of Oak forests and the commercial harvest of Acorns for food would have dramatic benefits for carbon sequestration, biodiversity, and food security.

While research on Acorn as a crop in the EU is progressing rapidly thanks to support from the European Central Commission and the Italian government, there has been no similar investment in the US and Manzanita was unable to raise the funds to needed jump start the industry here.

However, Acorn cultivation remains a viable business model. This independent Feasibility Study, conducted by a pair of UC Davis Busienss School grad students with expertise in food and nut industry, confirms the opportunity.

If you are interested in helping to bring Acorn and other climate-adapted native foods to the mainstream where they belong, please reach out.