Investigating Underutilized Traditional Crop Mixtures for Nutritional Yield, Climate Resilience, and Soil Regeneration

Working with partners at The New York Botanical Garden, Cornell University, Addis Ababa University, and Wollo University, this project investigates the potential benefits of traditional crop mixtures, including (1) their contributions to the nutritional status of mothers and infants suffering from micronutrient deficiencies, (2) their ability to provide stable yields under an increasingly variable climate, and (3) their role in maintaining and enhancing soil quality. Through a combination of literature review and field research, Clark University’s role in the project focuses on farmers’ indigenous agroecological knowledge, including agronomic practices related to crop mixtures and their use in traditional foodways. Specifically, interviews with farmers in North and South Wollo, Ethiopia will examine their understanding of the role of crop mixtures in crop rotation, soil regeneration, and climate adaptation, and determine what farmers have learned about the performance and value of crop mixtures. The project includes cross-training of students among the partner institutions.