Chapter 4 Agroforestry
by Katja Schiffers, Eike Luedeling, Marcos Jimenez Martinez and Cory Whitney
Agroforestry refers to a land-use system that integrates trees or shrubs into agricultural land and/or livestock farming. By diversifying production it can generate social, economic and environmental benefits. Agroforestry is also increasingly recognized as one of the most promising land use options for addressing multiple Sustainable Development Goals and confronting the challenges of climate change mitigation, food security, soil degradation, decline of biodiversity and desertification.
4.1 Materials
The following three videos will give you a first overview of what agroforestry is, what it can contribute, and what it looks like in practice:
4.1.4 Agroforestry in the European Union
Also go through the following briefing document, developed for the European Parliament, which outlines the current situation and legal setting of agroforestry in Europe: Agroforestry in the European Union
You can also find this on eCampus.
4.1.5 Questions (or rather “assignments” today)
- Name the three basic types of agroforestry according to the most commonly used classification system.
- Name seven reasons why a farmer may benefit from introducing agroforestry on her farm.
- Briefly describe two examples of agroforestry systems (in up to three sentences each).
- Name three constraints to the implementation of agroforestry in Europe.
4.2 Instructions
This week we’ll take a shot at designing an agroforestry system. You’ll get more detailed instructions in class.
4.3 Literature for discussion
We’re discussing the following paper:
You can also find it on eCampus.
In addition - this is optional - we encourage you to take a look at the following materials:
A paper on the perceptions of various stakeholders across Europe towards agroforestry: Garcia de Jalon et al. 2018: How is agroforestry perceived in Europe? An assessment of positive and negative aspects by stakeholders
A selection of two chapters of a brand new textbook on agroforestry. This is the long-awaited second edition of the “An Introduction to Agroforestry” - a seminal textbook by PK Nair et al. that was first published in 1991: An Introduction to Agroforestry
4.4 Term paper topics
The challenges of agroforestry modeling
Eike Luedeling, Marcos Jimenez Martinez
Modeling agroforestry systems are more complex than monocultures, so they have presented considerable challenges to the modeling community. This term paper outlines these challenges and reviews how they have been addressed in previous modeling attempts.
Barriers to agroforestry adoption in Germany (or elsewhere)
Eike Luedeling, Marcos Jimenez Martinez
Many experts agree that agroforestry systems can offer environmental, economic and social benefits to farmers. Yet adoption rates often remain low due to an array of barriers that keep farmers from integrating trees with other agricultural practices. This term paper reviews these barriers and proposed ideas for overcoming them.
Agroforestry in Germany (or elsewhere) - present distribution expansion potential
Eike Luedeling, Marcos Jimenez Martinez
Agroforestry has gained traction in many places, yet its spread in Germany (and many other countries) has been slow. This term paper reviews what types of systems exist and where they can be found (possibly using case studies). It also speculates on the potential distribution within this geographic region.