AGFORWARD

AGFORWARD (AGroFORestry that Will Advance Rural Development) is a four-year research project funded by the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7). It started in January 2014 and will continue until December 2017.

The project builds on existing agroforestry experiments, current on-farm agroforestry trials, and previous research projects such as “Silvoarable Agroforestry For Europe (SAFE)”. The European Agroforestry Federation is a partner. The start of the project coincides with the launch of EU Rural Development Regulations that can support the establishment of agroforestry systems.

What is agroforestry?

Agroforestry is the practice of deliberately integrating woody vegetation (trees or shrubs) with crop and/or animal systems to benefit from the resulting ecological and economic interactions.

Existing research indicates that appropriate application of agroforestry principles and practices are a key avenue to help the European Union to achieve more sustainable methods of food and fibre production that produce both profits for farmers and environmental benefits.

Because successful and sustainable agroforestry practices are best developed by farmers and land owners working in partnership with researchers, extension staff, and other rural businesses AGFORWARD uses a participatory approach.