Bamboo

Bamboo production brings immense benefits to those involved and importantly to the local environment, which is often in countries of modest means

Agricultural efficiency is easily its largest benefit.

Since bamboos are the fastest growing woody plants in the world, the crop can be replenished quickly.

Furthermore, bamboo is self-regenerating, which means that after the stalk has been cut, it rapidly regrows from the remaining rootstock.

As long as bamboo is grown in its native habitat, its impact on local ecosystems is minimal compared to the destructive foresting practices of timber production.

Although concerns about bamboo as a textile and clothing fabric are warranted (and consumers should probably avoid bamboo textiles unless they're particularly well-informed), bamboo is a remarkably suitable replacement for timber as building material.

It forms a very hard wood that is extremely light weight and exceptionally durable.

And despite the fact that almost all bamboo has to be imported to North America and Europe, the carbon-conscious consumer can rest easier knowing that the fuel-usage for transporting bamboo from Asia to California is essentially equivalent to shipping timber coast-to-coast in the U.S., according to the Department of Energy.

For farmers and local communities in developing countries like Vietnam, it's impossible to deny the economic benefits of growing more bamboo.

The Prosperity Institute estimates that 60% of the value of bamboo production goes right back into the pocket of the farmers who grew it.

And as demand for the gregarious grass increases around the globe, rural economies in Southeast Asia could garner huge benefits by growing and selling bamboo to foreign buyers.

As many as 1.5 billion people already rely upon bamboo or rattan in some significant way, according to the International Network for Bamboo and Rattan.

So even if bamboo isn't an omnibenevolent eco-crop, it's not bad, and it's here to stay

The Guardian