Thanks for joining us, today we are excited to welcome Omar de-Kok Mercado, an Agroforestry Technical Service Provider for the Savanna Institute a Wisconsin-based non-profit organization focused on the widespread adoption of agroforestry in the Midwest.
Omar holds degrees in soil microbiology and agroecology and is using that knowledge to literally change the landscape by helping growers adopt agroforestry systems by integrating trees, crops, and livestock to foster ecological resilience, climate stability, economic prosperity, and vibrant communities.
And don’t let the term agroforestry limit your thinking, as Omar describes it, it’s the integration of trees and livestock into agricultural landscapes. Agro represents agriculture and forestry represents traditional forestry practices of timber production.
Learning about these opportunities for developing and adopting resilient, scalable agroforestry is super exciting and it’s a great conversation.
Omar is an agroforester and grazier living in central Iowa, where he’s managing remnant oak savannas as multifunctional silvopastures on a rented organic farm. He has worked to implement federal agricultural policies, and currently serves as a technical service provider for the Savanna Institute, a Wisconsin-based non-profit organization focused on the widespread adoption of agroforestry in the Midwest.
Watch episode: https://youtu.be/WhLke1JLlZI
https://www.nrem.iastate.edu/research/STRIPS/
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