Social dimensions

of diverse ag landscapes

�June 22, 2022

Continuous Living Cover (CLC) - Roots in the Ground Year Round

Agroforestry Perennial Perennial Perennial Rotations-Cover

Biomass Forage Grains Crops-Winter Annuals

2

Five signature CLC Production Strategies for marketable crops

Integrating across strategies in whole farm systems is ideal

​

​

3

Base image: Association Française d'Agroforesterie, via the Savanna Institute

Annual grain crops cover most acres

Trees & perennial forages play a minor role

…transitioned to perennial agriculture

Staple food production from perennial grains…

Annual crop-dominated landscapes

…and from improved tree crops

Reintegration of livestock w/ perennial forages

Silvopasture & alley cropping arrangements

Remaining annual crops

Partnering for Perennials

Why is CLC important?

• Farmland stays in production

* more of the year, with a diversity of plants & livestock, for a variety of markets

• Economic benefits to farmer
• Environmental & climate benefits

*increased resiliency through improved water quality, water infiltration/flow moderation, soil health, ecological/habitat support

• Local & regional human communities

*more environmentally & economically resilient

​

4

Western Meadowlark. Photo: Vida Ward/Audubon Photography Awards

5

Croatan Institute & Delta Institute - Soil Wealth, http://www.croataninstitute.org/images/publications/soil-wealth-2019.pdf

Human diversity & diverse ag landscapes are not independent

• Diversity leads to resilience - in our cropping systems & in social terms
• If we want both, we must embrace them together at the same time
• Implemented equitably with people and communities at the center, CLC can bring about needed, critical environmental and social changes

6

18 years old

Systems-level positioning

​

​

​

​

Home base

​

​

Geographic focus

​

Network

7

• Formed in 2004 by reps of land grant universities & ag/environmental organizations
• Increase broad support for perenniality in agriculture - Continuous Living Cover
• Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture University of Minnesota, St. Paul campus
• Upper Mississippi River Basin MN, WI, IA, IL, MO with partners in LA
• Many partners - universities, researchers, educators, producer associations, environmental groups, food/ag industry, small business, nonprofits, governmental agencies, policy makers & farmers

Network approach to landscape scale change

Green Lands Blue Waters and partners:

• Conduct research – breeding, agronomy, environmental, socioeconomic
• Develop new educational, outreach & engagement capacity
• Shape policy
• Build profitable markets for new crops
• Work with farmers through agency & practitioner partners

​

changing the narrative around �what’s possible through agriculture

​

8

In 2020, GLBW asked the Next Generation

greenlandsbluewaters.org/civic-scientists-series/

9

In 2021, GLBW wrote a paper with many partners

10

Together we identified key strategies

Both grounded, individual efforts & collective pressure on big system levers are required to bring about a new agriculture

11

12

Next Gen Ag & Conservation Professionals

• New mentorship program launching Fall 2022 through GLBW & Mississippi River Network

​

13

Pathways to Climate-Smart Grazing proposal

• USDA Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities funding opportunity
• Wallace Center at Winrock, GLBW & multiple collaborators
• Project to support underserved farmers in IA & MN

14

Thank You

Dr. Britt Moore, UNC-Wilmington, mooree@uncw.edu

​

greenlandsbluewaters.org - glbw@umn.edu

Making the case for CLC

• GLBW & partners with Ecotone Analytics & Background Stories
• Impact investing case - Social ROI of CLC strategies
• Infographics describing benefits & opportunities
• Products available to partners for fundraising & outreach

16