High-Level Dialogue on Scaling Up Agroforestry

On July 23rd, 2024, Simon Swatek (University of Bonn) attended the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) event on scaling up agroforestry. This high-level dialogue was part of the 9^th World Forest Week, held under the motto “Accelerating Forest Solutions Through Innovation.” Speakers discussed the transformative potential of agroforestry in the agrifood sector, focusing on opportunities, lessons learned from past and ongoing projects, and current efforts to support national expansion.

The speakers included not only policymakers and FAO members but also farmers who shared their experiences with agroforestry. For example, Australian sheep and cattle farmer Mr. Michael Taylor reported on his farm’s success in increasing tree cover from 5% to over 23% in 37 years, despite the lack of government support. He emphasized the importance of land rights for making tree planting possible and profitable and highlighted the need to learn from forestry and ecology to plan and manage successful agroforestry systems.

Other speakers, such as FAO’s Elaine Springgay, discussed the importance of market access, value chain creation, financing, and government support. She highlighted that agroforestry is not simply about planting trees on farms but integrating woody perennials into farming operations in an economically viable way.

Government officials from Costa Rica, India, and Sao Tome e Principe shared their successes in using agroforestry practices for landscape restoration, ending deforestation, and reducing pressure on existing forests.

All speakers emphasised the importance of a multi-stakeholder approach, integrating landowners and managers, universities and research centres, as well as the private sector (e.g., nurseries) into the conversation and making them all the targets of supportive policies.

European government officials from Austria and Ireland reported on their plans to introduce educational programs for farmers and funding mechanisms for agroforestry. Agroforestry is seen as a crucial component of a resilient and productive landscape. Ireland’s farmers can already benefit from agroforestry payments under the organic farming payment scheme, while Austria’s farmers will receive financial support starting in 2025.

ReForest is dedicated to expanding agroforestry practices across Europe. We are grateful for the opportunity to gain valuable insights from stakeholders actively involved in advancing agroforestry. These discussions and experiences will significantly inform and enhance our efforts to promote sustainable and innovative agroforestry solutions throughout the region.