This page holds information about agroforestry research undertaken by Wageningen University & Research in The Netherlands. The manifestations of agroforestry are very diverse and vary from shrubs used as fodder trees for livestock on grassland to alley cropping systems to complex food forests. The design of an agroforestry system is determined by many different factors, including soil type, scale level and intended management. But the design is also determined by the goals that farmers have with agroforestry. This type of agriculture offers both ecological and economic benefits. Agroforestry is therefore increasingly referred to as a sustainable and innovative type of agriculture. There is currently still insufficient knowledge and experience in the field of agroforestry in the Netherlands to know how and to what extent the potential benefits of agroforestry can be utilised. Researchers from Wageningen University & Research are committed to finding answers to questions such as: What can agroforestry yield in terms of production and soil fertility? Does agroforestry affect the burden of disease and pest? How to integrate nature and biodiversity into profitable farming business? And what opportunities and obstacles exist for the implementation of agroforestry? Wageningen University & Research conducts different agroforestry research projects, most of them together with agri-food business parties. You can access information on the various research projects and relevant publications via this page.
Eklipse is inviting applications from different fields of expertise to join an Expert Working Group (EWG – Read the EWG´s guidance note to learn more). This request was originally put forward by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (EC-DG R&I) and is now also followed by a cross-sectoral consortium of requesters, including the EC Directorates-General Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI), Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA), Environment (ENV), and key relevant stakeholders such as PREZODE (Preventing Zoonotic Disease Emergence), One Health High-Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP), HERA project and Norwegian Veterinary Institute (NRI).
Why contribute:
You value policy decisions based on the best available knowledge.
You are interested in contributing to the selection of policy-relevant requests and minimizing the dissonance between relevant existing knowledge and policy decision-making.
You wish to get involved in a process strengthening policy-relevant knowledge synthesis and better understand the needs of decision-makers.
You want to draw attention to your field of expertise and network.
Application deadline: 20th June, 2022.
This page holds information about agroforestry research undertaken by the Organic Research Centre (ORC) in the UK. It explains that the focus of the agroforestry research is the evaluation of a range of agroforestry systems (including both crops and livestock) in terms of their productivity, environmental and economic impacts, and their potential for agri-environmental policy. There are both ecological and economic interactions between the trees and crops and/or livestock elements in an agroforestry system. These interactions can lead to higher productivity compared to conventional systems and provide a wide range of services including soil management, microclimate modification, shelter, weed control, natural fencing, carbon sequestration and nutrient recycling. Agroforestry systems also support the production of a wide range of varied products including, food, fuel, timber, fodder and forage, fibre, gums and resins, thatching and hedging materials, gardening materials, medicinal products, craft products, recreation and ecological services. Alongside work on integrated agroforestry systems, the ORC are also investigating the potential of hedges and other landscape elements as sources for biofuels and other products, generating an income to support their management and conservation. You can access information on the various research projects and relevant publications via this page.
The Agroforestry Research Trust is an educational and research organisation based in Devon, England, and founded (by Martin Crawford) in 1992 as a registered non-profit making charity, to educate and conduct research into all aspects of agroforestry and perennial crops. They carry out practical research on their trial grounds (which includes a 25-year-old 2-acre forest garden at the Dartington Estate, south Devon), run courses, publish guides, and sell plants, seeds and books. Various academic and practical research projects have been and continue to be undertaken since its formation. Courses and tours are important aspects of their work. Their website hosts an online shop, information on courses, and lots of useful information on various aspects of agroforestry and different agroforestry systems.
