Agroforestry, like any tree-related cropping system, has a problem with surplus wood and tree waster from pruning, harvesting and dead stock.This poster (presented at the EURAF 2024 conference) explores a potential solution of converting it into biochar and using it to improve soils or as charcoal to generate additional income. It focuses on biochar production in different locations in Poland.
A voluntary non-profit organisation that promotes agroforestry practices in the Czech Republic. It connects the interests of agroforestry farmers, scientific organisations and agricultural consultants and focuses primarily on education, raising awareness and exchanging information about agroforestry between farmers, advisors and other groups. The goal of the association is to raise awareness of the alternative use of agricultural land in the style of agroforestry systems, and to improve the condition of the soil and the environment without reducing production. It is a very important platform for the exchange of information (the website hosts many useful resources such as videos, reports and newsletters), and organises meetings, educational events and presentations on agroforestry issues in the Czech Republic.
The World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) is an international research centre based in Kenya that has been working on agroforestry in subtropical and tropical countries since 1978. The only institution that does globally significant agroforestry research in and for all of the developing tropics. Knowledge produced by ICRAF enables governments, development agencies and farmers to utilise the power of trees to make farming and livelihoods more environmentally, socially and economically sustainable at scales.
National Center for Appropriate Technology’s ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture program supports US farmers, ranchers, agriculture educators, and land managers. Trusted source of sustainable agriculture information and maintains a knowledge base of practical multimedia resources for farmers, ranchers, and educators. NCAT’s agriculture specialists work directly with farmers, ranchers, land managers, and others across the country to provide individualised technical assistance, offer practical learning opportunities, and facilitate meaningful connections among producers, experts, researchers, and industry professionals.
Collection of agroforestry-related tools and information sources – vast library of training resources, publications, webinars, newsletters, technical guides, photos, and other media can be browsed and downloaded. You can also find more information about specific USDA programs and partner working groups and proceedings from agroforestry-related conferences.
The Association for Temperate Agroforestry (AFTA) is a non-profit organisation working to promote and disseminate temperate agroforestry in North America. Its main focus is on education and outreach – including via a newsletter and technical publications. From the website you can access some information for free focusing particularly on definitions and benefits of different agroforestry systems, membership will give access to more in depth information via articles and a members only area. Every two years, AFTA hosts the North American Agroforestry Conference.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialised agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Their goal is to achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With 195 members – 194 countries and the European Union, FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide.
From this agroforestry section on the FAO website, you can access different non FAO and FAO publications including the useful ‘Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) Toolbox’ which takes you to various modules, tools and publications.
This page also contains information on a ‘Global Agroforestry Capacity Needs Assessment’ survey which was aimed at anyone involved in agroforestry-related activities around the world – with objectives to:
Provide a baseline of existing capacities on agroforestry globally.
Identify strengths, gaps, needs, and barriers to successful agroforestry design, implementation and scaling up.
Guide FAO’s capacity development efforts on agroforestry, to the benefit of all involved.
(The survey has now closed)
The European FARM LIFE project (involving 7 partner organisations) focuses on the transition towards climate-resilient, diversified and multi-layered agricultural systems, particularly agroforestry practices. It aimed to achieve this by sharing information, developing and demonstrating innovative adaptation strategies, and bringing together farmers, policymakers and other stakeholders.
A major part of the project activities involved a series of masterclasses in agroforestry which tackled technical, economic and legislative components of various subjects. The project worked with farmers to develop profitable agroforestry business models adapted to their specific contexts and conditions, a roadmap for effective implementation, and a transition toolkit (set of tools farmers, policymakers and social actors can use).
The project links with other EU projects and developing training tools, including a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), developing innovative agroforestry food products and marketing strategies, and connecting with policymakers to bring attention to the project outcomes at European and regional level (the Netherlands, Flanders).
You can access newsletters and videos from the website.
Via this website you can access information on long term experimental and demonstration sites of the Consortium Agroforestry Flanders and a range of agroforestry projects, both past and present, which provide a lot of useful practical information (introductory summaries usually in English, any outputs usually not).
Agroforestry offers opportunities to enhance farm resilience and respond to future challenges in Flemish (and Western European) agriculture, i.e. through diversification in production and supplying a wide range of ecosystem services. The expected increase in demand for locally produced fruit and nuts and biomass and high-quality wood products may make agroforestry a shock-proof investment for farmers. Agroforestry also potentially meets the social demand for eco-efficient agro-ecological production methods while being economically profitable. In addition to stumbling blocks regarding legal and administration issues, several technical, organisational and economical questions remain unanswered. The Consortium Agroforestry Flanders aims to tackle these issues throughout their activities and projects. It was founded with ILVO, Ghent University, Soil Service of Belgium, Inagro, Boerennatuur Vlaanderen, Wervel, BOS+ and Praktijkpunt Landbouw Vlaams-Brabant, and conducts scientific research, provides support to farmers, and feedback on policy.
Polish Agroforestry Association (OSA – Ogólnopolskie Stowarzyszenie Agroleśnictwa) is a non-governmental organisation, whose mission is to increase awareness of values of trees in agricultural landscape and to promote the practice of agroforestry across Poland.
The Association’s goals are to undertake, co-ordinate and support initiatives related to sustainable development of rural areas and to contribute to better links between science, economy and nature and landscape protection in Poland, in the context of agroforestry systems.
From the website you can access information on various projects and videos (in Polish), and there is a membership form you can complete.
REFOREST: Agroforestry at the forefront of farming sustainably in multifunctional landscapes in Europe.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 101060635 (REFOREST). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
UK partners are funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) under UK government’s Horizon Europe funding guarantee [grant number 10039700].
Euro-Mediterranean Economists Association
EMEA brings together leading economists and high-level international and local experts to think for the future of the Euro-Mediterranean and Africa in a multi-polar world.