The Rise, Fall, and Possible Rise of Maslin Agriculture

This episode of Everything Everywhere Daily explores Maslin agriculture—a centuries-old farming practice where multiple cereal crops like wheat, rye, barley, and oats were grown together in mixed fields. Unlike modern monoculture systems, Maslin farming offered built-in resilience against pests, drought, and disease, while improving soil health and reducing weed pressure. Rooted in ancient Mesopotamia and practiced widely in Egypt, medieval Europe, and Indigenous North America through the Three Sisters system, Maslin farming was a practical response to uncertainty, prioritizing survival over peak yield. However, the rise of industrial agriculture, cash crops, standardized markets, and mechanized farming led to its decline in the 18th to 20th centuries. Despite this, Maslin agriculture persists today in places like Ethiopia, where environmental challenges make its resilience essential. The episode argues that while modern supply chains and infrastructure still favor monoculture, there's growing interest in reviving Maslin farming for its sustainability, biodiversity, and long-term stability. The return of Maslin agriculture may not be about maximizing short-term yields, but about building a more robust and adaptable food system for a changing world.