Soil, our most valuable resource, was developed and maintained under the cover of majestic forests and grasslands. Much of this vital inheritance has been lost along with many high quality water resources to deforestation, overgrazing, unwise tillage, and desertification. The replacement of perennial species with annual crops has been responsible for much of this destruction. J. Russell Smith, professor of geography at Columbia University, observed devastation by soil erosion during his extensive travels. He published his landmark book, “Tree Crops, A Permanent Agriculture” in 1929 with an extensive updating in 1950. In this book he discussed the value of genetically improved tree crops in rebuilding, enhancing, and maintaining soils and their ability to produce feed for animals and nutritious food for people. He proposed extensive expeditions for germplasm collection and the establishment of a foundation for the long-term support of a number of “Institutes of Mountain Agriculture”. These institutes would conduct tree crop breeding programs at various strategic locations. While the "Land Institute", was established by Wes Jackson to develop perennial cereal crops for native prairie soils, less well known are current efforts to develop tree crops as alternatives to annual crops for food production on native forest soils. As J. Russell Smith envisioned, advances in tree crop breeding and the development of agroforestry food systems have the potential to sustainablely support equivalent levels of livestock production and human nutrition while enhancing and conserving soil resources in formerly forested regions by reducing erosion, rebuilding soil carbon, and reducing nutrient losses. Tree crops also hold promise as an important source of bio-energy.