Author: Fatima Arshad
2nd Year BSc Microbiology student at the University of Leeds
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons, restored by Adam Cuerden, Tuskegee University Archives/Museum
Introduction
George Washington Carver is often remembered for his many contributions to utilizing sweet potatoes and peanuts and as a figurehead for African American resilience in post-slavery America. However, behind the historical recognition also lies impactful bodies of work such as crop rotation and sustainable agriculture that have laid the groundwork for subsequent practices in plant science. Carver’s vision of waste reduction, soil restoration and plant recycling to improve sustainability aligns greatly with the current global efforts to reduce the progression of the climate change whilst accommodating the growing global population.
Carver worked at Tuskegee Institute of Alabama for the majority of his career which is where he advanced and developed methods of non-reliance on crops and agricultural and commercial uses for sweet potatoes, peanuts and other crops (US Government, 2023). In addition to his other agricultural advancements, Carver reiterated ideas of improving soil health whilst maximizing monetary yields to make farming accessible to many in a period where unfavourable circumstances meant a considerable loss for individuals.
Carver promoted sustainable agriculture practices long before climate change was widely recognized as a major global issue. Given today’s deteriorating environmental conditions, including rising global temperatures and record-breaking sea levels, it is vital to revisit sustainable practices to mitigate climate damage even if a full reversal is no longer possible (Ripple, et al., 2024). This review will provide an insight into how important it is to reflect on the origins of sustainable agriculture in order to combat current global issues.
Carver’s Scientific Contributions
Tragically, Carver existed during a time where segregation became rampant of which he was also a victim of. In 1885, his admission to the Highland University of Kansas was retracted when they realized he was Black (US Government, 2023). Despite this, six years later, he enrolled at Iowa State Agricultural College to begin his career in botany (US Government, 2023). At the Tuskegee Institute of Alabama, he developed on existing theories of restoring soil quality after growing crops by rotating cultivars and simply letting the soil periodically rest. He noted that overcultivation of cotton for many years had caused soil neglect, exhausting many nutrients within it (Pugina, 2021). In response to this, he recommended planting nitrogen-fixing legumes such as cowpeas and vetch in between to restore the soil’s nutrients (Carver & Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute, 1905). For example, he reported how soil fertility dramatically increased after he experimented with cycles of fertilizing and cultivating these legumes which fixated nitrogen back into the soil (Carver, 1905). Interestingly, alfalfa experiments showed promise for Carver and he documented how it grew well even in the most sandiest of soils and with extremely sparse rainfall, providing nutritious grazing for livestock (Carver & Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute, 1915). Carver also stated economic impacts with each step to make his experiments representative and accessible to those that were less affluent or had the worst quality of soil (Carver, 1905). Thus, most of his publications lay the framework for optimising soil quality which in turn provided better crops for farmers to sell and consume themselves.
Perhaps the most impacting areas of his works was his ability to create a market for vegetables that were not heavily relied upon – such as sweet potatoes, soybeans and peanuts (Wright, 2014). Carver compiled numerous recipes utilizing these crops but he is most notable for his work with another legume, peanuts – discovering around 105 recipes for peanuts and claimed the vegetable had endless possibilities to experiment with (Carver & Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute, 1917). In addition to this, he also discovered peanut hay derived from peanut vines was a suitable alternative to other forms of dried feeding materials – showing higher nutritional values such as protein-building fibres and fats compared to alfalfa and crimson clovers (Carver & Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute, 1917). Carver’s work illuminates his ability to create versatility within numerous crops whilst ensuring commercial crops and livestock weren’t sacrificed.
However, his works with peanuts didn’t stop there; he developed uses for peanuts within cosmetics and industrial products, including paints, hygienic products, glue and wood stains (Wright, 2014). Furthermore, an excerpt within the New York Times also stated Carver was experimenting in creating synthetic peanut oil for potential therapeutics (The New York Times, 1937). Unsurprisingly, he created over 300 uses with peanuts and was labelled ‘Peanut Man’ in 1921 (Mackintosh, 1976). For each crop he experimented with, Carver found and compiled lists of all their uses and invented more, providing not only dietary improvements but also economically assisting farmers at a time where resources were low.
Moreover, Carver branched into the automotive industry, partnering with Henry Ford to develop plastics from soybean fibres as metal alternatives which were hard to procure (Scott, 2024). Carver’s uses for soybeans didn’t finish there – he experimented with soybean oil to use as paint binders for Ford’s automotives, proving more colours than originally possible (Scott, 2024) (Lewis, 2023). The two were essentially architects of the chemurgy movement, broadening the possibilities of plant usages for every-day industrial products (Lewis, 2023). Despite his numerous successful findings, Carver lived during a time when inequality permeated society. His work highlights how despite the obstacles he faced, he created outstanding work and left behind a legacy that still influences many plant science practices today.
Regenerative Agriculture and Sustainable Bioproduction
To support the rising global population, the longevity of resources and agriculture is paramount for life. However, it is estimated that the agricultural industry contributes approximately 10% towards global emissions (Nsabiyeze, et al., 2024). For instance, deforestation, cultivating crops using fertilizers and poor soil health produces methane and carbon dioxide, both of which contribute to greenhouse gas emission production (Nsabiyeze, et al., 2024) (Yu & Leng, 2022). In fact, extratropical crop production has been linked to an approximate 25% increase in carbon dioxide emissions (Gray, et al., 2014). Although agriculture is one of the first industries to be affected by climate change symptoms – drought, increasing temperatures and erratic weather, it is also one of the leading industries targeted to mitigate the progression of climate change as the sustainability of modern practices can offset the detrimental impacts.
It is within these perilous periods that we reflect on previous forms of sustainability and improve upon them. The rise of regenerative agriculture is one such strategy to mitigate the progression of climate change whilst balancing sustainable development of land used for agriculture. Regenerative agriculture focuses on improving ecosystem health, particularly by restoring soil health. It includes a plethora of holistic and sustainable practices by treating the land as one feedback system rather than individual components. Some of these include maintaining soil fertility, pH and biodiversity by switching out fertilizers and utilizing more natural means to improve soil health and potentially sequestrate carbon within the soil (Lal, 2020). Furthermore, it focuses on optimizing water usage by reducing waste with precipitation and refining water infiltration to the soil (Lal, 2020). All these practices closely coincide with Carver’s findings of enhancing efficiency from each crop (sweet potatoes, soybeans etc.) and the soil that it grew in. The multifaceted and optimized use of each component of cultivation in Regenerative Agriculture is similar to Carver’s methodologies. It is no surprise that Carver had these ideas during a time where a major global issue was occurring – World War I. Similar to climate change, both are periods where resources’ limited nature becomes evident.
Many of Carver’s practices eventually branched into chemurgy or essential biochemical engineering, another concept currently being explored as sustainable alternatives. There are a plethora of applications of bioproducts, contributing to a more circular and carbon-neutral global economy. For instance, recent discoveries allow chemical modification of plant cellulose to create nanomaterials which have broad applications in promoting sustainability – simply incorporating them can create biodegradable food packaging or facilitating drug delivery (Arantes, et al., 2024). In addition to this, bioplastics with maize straw cellulose and sugarcane bagasse fibre matrices were found to be viable alternatives for food packaging due to high decomposability and low moisture absorption properties (Nyerere, et al., 2024). Carver’s interest in soybean oil did not go forgotten either – it has been trialled in the production of biofuels. Despite detrimental climate effects during cultivation and refining of crude soybean oil, it is a renewable biofuel that can yield approximately ~95% biodiesel under specific conditions (Osman, et al., 2024). Soybean biofuel has also been reported to produce >70% greenhouse emissions compared to traditional petroleum, highlighting its sustainability in addition to its renewability (Osman, et al., 2024). Soil erosion resulting from cultivation of soybean plants can be refined to streamline the process and reduce the effects on the climate even further. However, if reliance on vegetable oil-biofuel mixtures increases, there are issues that the deforestation needed to grow agricultural lands for cultivation may offset the benefits of using it in the first place (Osman, et al., 2024). Despite this, bioproducts are a significant step in the mitigation of climate change. Though the processes can later be refined, they already show promise in combination with sustainable practices such as regenerative agriculture in reducing the detrimental effects of climate change.
Conclusion
Most of Carver’s ideologies contributed to sustainable agriculture long before their time. In a way, he popularized the idea before climate change became a serious global issue. Despite the challenges and limitations he faced when segregation and racism was prevalent in 1900s America, he presented innovative solutions for homestead owners, revolutionizing agriculture in America. The insights presented in this review reflect on the origins of sustainable practices and their importance today in the face of a current global issue: climate change. Regenerative agriculture and natural bioproducts branching out into industry to replace harmful materials are concepts that are steadily gaining traction – reminiscent of Carver’s innovations during his time at the Tuskegee Institute. Overall, the sustainable practices used today have been in some way influenced by George Washington Carver’s findings, highlighting how impactful his legacy still remains in combatting arising issues in the present day.
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