Fijian ants have been planting fruit plants for three million years, long before human agriculture evolved, according to a study conducted by the University of Munich, Germany.

According to New Scientist, the Fijian ant species - Philidris nagasau - grow and harvest the Squamellaria fruit plants that grow on the branches of various trees.

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The whole farming procedure starts with ants inserting fruit seeds in the cracks of the tree barks. Worker ants constantly patrol these sites to keep seeds away from any external forces of damage. They are also believed to fertilize the seedlings, probably with their faces. These ants, instead of building nests, live at the base of the trees by forming large and round hollow structures called domatia. When the fruit appears, the ants eat the flesh of the fruit and collect the seeds for future farming and thus, the cycle is repeated.

Philidris nagasau ants and Squamellaria plants are mutually dependent on each other for their survival. This is the first relationship of its kind exhibited by ants, according to the researchers. While these ants cannot survive without the food and shelter provided by these plants, the Squamellaria plants are completely dependent on the ants to plant and fertilise their seeds.

According to Guillaume Chomicki at the University, who conducted a genetic analysis to studied the history of the Fijian ant-plant interactions, the results showed that the plants developed roots that grew inside their barks at the same time the ants lost their ability to build nests around three million years ago. This could be the beginning of the mutual relationship.

Chomicki and his colleagues discovered that each ant colony farmed dozens of plants at the same time, all plants connected to each other, being members of one thriving hub.

Other species that have been known to cultivate their own food include Yeti crabs (that cultivate bacteria on their claws) and sloths (that grow algae gardens on their fur). Ants have been known to cultivate fungi, but this discovery of their mutual relationship with plants to grow their food is the first. It tells a lot about the sophisticated food production skills and impressive teamwork of ants.