Video production: Uncovering secrets of the Miracle Tree Faidherbia albida

In the heart of Senegal, follow Dr. Roupsard as he reveals how this extraordinary tree stays green during the dry season, taps into groundwater, and triples crop yields without competing with crops. A fascinating discovery from the "Faidherbia-Flux" observatory that could transform Sahelian agriculture in the face of climate change.

Olivier interview Faidherbia Albida, photo: Lilian Beck

Root system Faidherbia albida, photo: Lilian Beck

Faidherbia albida in association with crops in the agroforestry farm of a women group in Ouarkokh, photo: Lilian Beck

We are following a small trail guiding us through a landscape dominated by a peculiar-looking tree. Although it is mid-dry season, this tree proudly carries green leaves. How is that even possible? Dr. Olivier Roupsard, the lead scientist of the "Faidherbia-Flux" collaborative observatory in Senegal (https://lped.info/wikiObsSN/?Faidherbia-Flux) sheds some light on the secrets of this tree, guiding us through the research station. We arrive at a deep hole where the roots of this mystical tree become visible. It seems like a drought-resistant tree, but it follows a different strategy. With cameras, the research team observed the root growth and observed the ability of this tree to find groundwater, and it can even deal with some salt content. The extraordinary characteristics of the tree allow farmers to harvest nutritious forage from the tree during the dry season, a period in which farmers usually struggle to find fodder for their animals. But what makes this tree an extraordinary choice for agroforestry is that it does not impose competition on other crops for sunlight, as it sheds leaves during the rainy season. "This is a unique feature", Olivier states.

With sparkling enthusiasm, Dr. Cathy Clermont IRD is introducing us to the underground world of soil microorganisms and their collaboration with this fascinating tree, which can increase millet yields up to 3 times. Dr. Moussa N'Dienor, a scientist at ISRA, explains the key role of Faidherbia albida in responding to the risk of desertification, especially in Senegal. But the fascinating benefits of Faidherbia albida do not end there. Dr. Hassna Founoune, a scientist at ISRA with a passion for soil organisms, shares their findings on reducing pathogens in crops thanks to the integration of Faidherbia albida in the field. We invite you to watch our video to follow the traces of our scientists discovering the secrets of a mystical tree capable of playing a key role in combating desertification and increasing yields in the face of climate change.

The "Faidherbia-Flux" collaborative observatory in Senegal is a cooperative effort of CIRAD-IRD-ISRA-UCAD and several other international partners and conducts many different research projects, including the SustainSahel project.

Watch the video 'Uncovering secrets of the Miracle Tree Faidherbia albida'on YouTube, in French.

We invite you to watch all of our videos to learn more about agroforestry best practices.