Reminds me of some of the discussion in Charles Mann's "1491", regarding the agricultural techniques of the Indians (honoring his use of that over Native Americans) before the Colombian Exchange [0]. The natives in South America had figured out symbiotic relationships between several plant species and grew them together in "Milpas" [1] (and how this goes against the "pristine land" myth many mistakenly hold regarding the Indian's use of the land).
[0]: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/107178/1491-second-...