United Kingdom | Agroforestry

2026 Top Agri-food Pioneers: Michael Hands

Michael Hands dedicates his life to promoting the Inga Tree Model, a revolutionary, organic agroforestry system designed to support family farmers in Central America. Currently implemented by over 650 smallholder families in northern Honduras, this system utilizes Inga tree alleys to provide total food security, improve livelihoods and offer an alternative to shifting cultivation and slash-and-burn practices. Smallholders have planted five million native trees, sequestering 1.25 million tons of carbon dioxide while regreening landscapes. The Inga Tree Model is a low-tech, low-input solution that proves a climate-resilient, nitrogen-fixing hedgerow can solve multiple agricultural challenges simultaneously. By eliminating debt and reliance on external inputs, families achieve near-complete autonomy. Hands researched and perfected this regenerative system to respect rural populations, protect natural resources and ensure economic viability, earning recognition from the World Economic Forum and IUCN.