Agriculture is a key sector of the U.S. economy, generating over $1 trillion annually and supporting millions of jobs. It’s also one of the country’s largest land uses; according to the U.S.D.A., about 17% of U.S. land is dedicated to agricultural activity.

Yet conventional agricultural practices, such as mono cropping, synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and intensive tillage pose environmental challenges. Poorly managed croplands, for example, can compromise adjoining and downstream waterways through soil erosion and nutrient runoff. In Pennsylvania alone, the Environmental Protection Agency has identified over 8,000 miles of streams impaired by agricultural activities.

One promising solution? Agroforestry—a land management system that integrates trees with crops or pastures. Penn researchers from the School of Veterinary Medicine and Weitzman School of Design are applying this approach at New Bolton Center (NBC) to explore the intersection of animal agriculture and the natural environment. Read more in Penn Today.