Press Release 16 - 076 Researchers discover oldest evidence of ' farming ' -- by insectsOldest fossil evidence of agriculture , but not by humans A 25 million - year - old termite nest with the remains of a " fungus garden " preserved inside . Credit and Larger VersionJune 22 , 2016 Scientists have discovered the oldest fossil evidence of agriculture -- not by humans , but by insects . The team , led by Eric Roberts of James Cook University along with researchers from Ohio University , discovered the oldest known examples of " fungus gardens " in 25 million - year - old fossil termite nests in East Africa . The results are published today in the journal PLOS onE . Some termite species cultivate fungi in " gardens " in subterranean nests or chambers , helping to convert plant material into a more easily digestible termite food source . Scientists had previously used DNA from modern termites to estimate that termite fungus farming began 25 to 30 million years ago . The fossil evidence from Tanzania confirmed that date , allowing researchers to more accurately characterize the timing and evolution of the symbiotic relationship between termites and fungi . The relationship likely significantly modified the environment , scientists say . " The origin of this behavior likely had a profound effect on how nutrients were concentrated across the landscape , influencing the evolution of Africa ' s biota , " said study co - author Nancy Stevens of Ohio University . " Since some 90 percent of the wood in the dry environment studied is digested by termites , understanding the development of this symbiotic relationship is important to our knowledge of the history of carbon cycling in this region , " said Paul Filmer , program director in the National Science Foundation ( NSF ) Directorate for Geosciences , which funded the research . The transition to fungus agriculture increased the range of possible habitats for both the fungus - growing termites and their domesticated fungi . It ' s a process similar to what happened tens of millions of years later with humans and domesticated crops and livestock , said study co - author Duur Aanen of Wageningen University in the Netherlands . " This study emphasizes the need for integrating perspectives from the fossil record with modern approaches in comparative biology -- it ' s a holistic approach to evolutionary biology and increases our understanding of environmental change in ' deep time , '" said scientist Patrick O ’ Connor of Ohio University , also a study co - author . The African rain forest may have served as the cradle of termite agriculture . The transition to fungiculture helped termites disperse to less hospitable dry savannas , and eventually to migrate out of Africa and into Asia . " The phenomenon might have been triggered by the development of the Great Rift Valley and the transformation of the landscape around that time , " Roberts said . The study is part of an ongoing research project on the evolution of the Rukwa Rift Basin in Tanzania . The research was also funded by James Cook University , Ohio University , the National Geographic Society , the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Fellowship , and a Marie Curie Fellowship . - NSF - Media Contacts Cheryl Dybas , NSF , ( 703 ) 292 - 7734 , cdybas @ nsf . gov James Phillips , Ohio University , ( 740 ) 593 - 2202 , phillij 2 @ ohio . edu Related WebsitesNSF Grant : 100 million Years of Biotic and Tectonic Evolution in the Western Branch of the East African Rift System : http : / / www . nsf . gov / awardsearch / showAward ? AWD _ ID = 1349825 & HistoricalAwards = false The National Science Foundation ( NSF ) is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering . In fiscal year ( FY ) 2016 , its budget is $ 7 . 5 billion . NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2 , 000 colleges , universities and other institutions . Each year , NSF receives more than 48 , 000 competitive proposals for funding and makes about 12 , 000 new funding awards . NSF also awards about $ 626 million in professional and service contracts yearly . Useful NSF Web Sites : NSF Home Page : http : / / www . nsf . gov NSF News : http : / / www . nsf . gov / news / For the News Media : http : / / www . nsf . gov / news / newsroom . jsp Science and Engineering Statistics : http : / / www . nsf . gov / statistics / Awards Searches : http : / / www . nsf . gov / awardsearch / A termite " fungus garden "; the darker layer was freshly added . Credit and Larger Version Map of the Great Rift Valley in East Africa with the Rukwa Rift study area highlighted . Credit and Larger Version A view of the Great Rift Valley , Rukwa Rift , in southwestern Tanzania . Credit and Larger Version The researchers ' field camp in the Rukwa Rift Basin in southwestern Tanzania . Credit and Larger Version The transition to fungiculture helped termites set up housekeeping in dry savannas . Credit and Larger Version