“Unfortunately, the people who tended those food forests were exterminated.”

Most of the edible plants in the rainforest were planted by humans over 4500 years ago, new study finds. Modern farmers should look to these ancient forest gardeners for the key to sustainable food production.

Ancient humans were practicing a form of agriculture known as horticulture or permaculture in the Amazonian rainforest 4500 years ago, which researchers have concluded is responsible for the overwhelming abundance of edible plants we now find there.

The dense abundance of fruit trees in the rainforest didn’t plant themselves, humans spread them.

They say the long-term success of the “forest-gardening” method of food production serves as a model of sustainability for modern farmers.

more @ Source: The Amazon is a Man-Made Food Forest, Researchers Discover