Agroforestry Focus: Policy & regulation

Biochar for agroforestry in Poland

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.

Farming for the future: how agroforestry can deliver for nature and climate

This policy paper assesses the benefits of agroforestry on a large scale on farmland in England. It considers how agroforestry systems are already being deployed and sets out recommendations on how to increase the number of trees in our agricultural environment and make changes in land use a reality. Research presented makes clear that widespread adoption of agroforestry can enhance and connect habitats and help store more carbon in our landscapes, while maintaining food production and in some cases improving farm productivity in both arable and pastoral farming systems. While focused on policy, the report has useful information on environmental and farm enterprise benefits (particularly sequestering greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity benefits), carbon markets, and other market-based approaches which could provide investment for agroforestry projects.

Stadt-Land-Plus OLGA Project – Optimisation of land use along water bodies and on agricultural land as well as support value creation in the agrifood system of the Dresden area

The OLGA project focuses on sustainable land use approaches and regional value creation in the Dresden region of Germany. As part of this it aims to promote the implementation of agroforestry systems along watercourses. The research focuses on investigating microclimatic effects of agroforestry structures on their immediate surroundings such as streams, as well as analysing woody plant physiology and vegetation development in and around the agroforestry system. The project lasts for 5 years (04/2020 – 03/2025) and will develop a transferable solution for implementing the EU Water Framework Directive, taking into account regional economic relations, interests of landowners, and flood prevention.

The research includes looking at the ecosystem services functions of agricultural trees and shrubs in watercourses, particularly in relation to water protection, climate protection and flood control. The economic perspectives and marketing potentials for farmers and landowners are also being explored, along with ways that agricultural woods can be used more widely as an energy resource and increase the use of renewable energies long term. Citizens in the region actively participate in the project through focus groups, real labs and other methods of citizen science and explore the added value that sustainable land use and regional food can have for their own environment and quality of life. You can subscribe to the newsletter and access various publications (mainly in German) from the website.

How can agroforestry contribute towards biodiversity conservation?

This is the recording of an online workshop hosted by the Organic Research Centre (ORC) in October 2021 and organised as part of the Farming the Future programme. It set out to explore how agroforestry could contribute towards the conservation and restoration of biodiversity, and the policy options that could support the realisation of these benefits. Chaired by Colin Tosh, Senior Agroforestry researcher at ORC, it features Tom Staton, University of Reading PhD researcher on agroforestry and biodiversity in arable systems (particularly focusing on natural pest control and pollination), Devon-based farmer Carolyn Richards, who reflects on her experiences of developing silvopasture with a view to better managing her herd and enhancing biodiversity, and Helen Chesshire – Senior Farming Advisor for the Woodland Trust who asks how the UK policy might help agroforestry achieve biodiversity goals. It also features a lively interactive discussion with delegates.

Can agroforestry systems be ordinary practices in Romania?

In Romania, combining trees with crops and/or animals has been practiced over a long time in various forms and, at the same time, it is a concept not fully understood and not perceived as being based on independent science. This scientific paper aims to present a summary of the main types of agroforestry systems in Romania that were based on consulting relevant works and on the results of researchers and identifies what steps are needed to encourage promotion and implementation of agroforestry systems in the country.

Towards Eco-energetic Communities TWECOM

The aim of this project was to demonstrate that local short supply chain systems using biomass from landscape elements for local energy or heat production are economically feasible. Through realising these systems and bringing together experiences from different partners and regions in northwest Europe, the project wanted to demonstrate that this currently unused biomass from landscape elements can contribute to local sustainable energy production, with respect to ecological, social and cultural aspects.
Farmers, landowners and local communities worked to develop a pilot energy co-operative using woody biomass from local landscape elements (particularly farm hedges).

Various publications were produced providing guidance on harvesting woodfuel from hedges which you can access via the project website and the Organic Research Centre webpage.

WOOFS: WOOdchip For Fertile Soils technical guides

Three short technical guides produced as part of the WOOdchip for Fertile Soils (WOOFS) project outlining observations and results from trials in which uncomposted and composted woodchip from on-farm woody resources was applied as a soil improver. The guides focus on key results from the trials, logistics and economics, and put the use of ramial (fresh uncomposted) woodchip in a whole farm context, considering the wider ecosystem service benefits, barriers to adoption, support available, and regulations that farmers and growers should be aware of.

FABulous Farmers network

FABulous Farmers is a European project designed to support farmers in the transition to more agroecological practices on their farms. The project aims to reduce the reliance on external inputs such as chemical fertilisers and pesticides, by encouraging the use of methods and interventions that increase the farm’s Functional AgroBiodiversity (FAB). These are targeted measures of biodiversity in and around the field to improve pollination, pest management, soil and water quality on the farmland. The project assists farmers in identifying and adopting relevant FAB-methods specifically for their farm. Networking sessions are organised in which the farmers can exchange ideas and experiences. Demonstration fields show effects of particular FAB-measures. The effect of some FAB-measures taken on the farm can be improved further by similar actions in the surrounding area. There are 14 active pilot areas in 6 countries (BE, NL, LUX, FR, UK and DE) in which they co-operate with other stakeholders, e.g. landowners and municipalities, to come to an integrated FAB-landscape-integration plan. Results of the trial fields and on farms overall will be communicated to European and regional policy makers.

From the website information can be accessed on agroforestry establishment, management, benefits and legal aspects.

WOOFS: WOOdchip For Fertile Soils

There is evidence to suggest that applying uncomposted (ramial) woodchip at an appropriate phase in a crop rotation can increase soil organic matter, water holding capacity, and the nutrient levels of soils.

The WOOdchip for Fertile Soils (WOOFS) project was a European Innovation Partnership (EIP) Project part funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. It was led by the Organic Research Centre (ORC) with Wakelyns Agroforestry, Iain Tolhurst (Tolhurst Organic CiC), Ben Raskin (Soil Association), Christine Watson (SRUC), William Hamer (Forestry Consultant), Robert Benford (Down Farm), and Nigel Stimson (Tree Shear Services). It trialled adding uncomposted versus composted woodchip from on-farm woody resources as a soil improver. By linking management of farm hedges and trees with the improvement of soils for agricultural production and providing an additional economic incentive for management of hedges and on-farm woody resources, it aimed to increase the sustainability of the system as a whole.

The project hub page held on the Agricology website hosts some project outputs that can be found on the ORC’s project page alongside other particularly relevant content for farmers, including a presentation, bulletin article, webinar recordings and event footage.

DigitAF

A project funded by the European Union to boost agroforestry through digital tools in order to meet climate, biodiversity and farming sustainability goals (launched Nov 2022).

The Digital Tools to help Agroforestry meet Climate, Biodiversity and Farming Sustainability Goals: Linking Field and Cloud (DigitAF) project is promoting agroforestry in Europe by developing digital decision-guidance tools so that trees are appropriately integrated on farms to achieve profitable food production, reduced net greenhouse gas emissions, and enhanced biodiversity. Tools are being developed for use by i) policy makers, ii) farmers, and iii) beneficiaries of agroforestry products and services. The tools are being developed in the context of six “Living Labs” in the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

Sponsor: European Union Horizon Europe with UKRI Innovate

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