Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jn8rn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T11:51:54.793Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A European perspective for developing modern multifunctional agroforestry systems for sustainable intensification

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2012

Jo Smith ,
Bruce D. Pearce  and
Martin S. Wolfe
Jo Smith*
Affiliation:
The Organic Research Centre, Elm Farm, Hamstead Marshall, Newbury, Berkshire RG20 0HR, UK.
Bruce D. Pearce
Affiliation:
The Organic Research Centre, Elm Farm, Hamstead Marshall, Newbury, Berkshire RG20 0HR, UK.
Martin S. Wolfe
Affiliation:
The Organic Research Centre, Wakelyns Agroforestry, Fressingfield, Suffolk IP21 5SD, UK.
*
*Corresponding author: jo.s@organicresearchcentre.com
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

One of the key questions of primary importance to global agriculture and food security is how to optimize sustainable intensification to balance competing demands on land for food and energy production, while ensuring the provision of ecosystem services and maintaining or increasing yields. Integrating trees and agriculture through agroforestry has been attracting increasing interest as an agroecological approach to sustainable intensification. Trees have traditionally been important elements of temperate agricultural systems around the world, but there has been increasing separation of agriculture, forestry and nature over the past few decades. This paper discusses what we can learn from traditional agroforestry systems to help develop modern systems that integrate ecological farming and agroecological advances to achieve sustainable intensification. We also discuss the existing barriers to wider adoption of agroforestry, and identify how these barriers can be overcome to promote agroforestry as a mainstream land-use system.

Keywords

agroecologyfood securityecosystem servicespollardingorchards
Type
Review Article
Information
Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems , Volume 27 , Issue 4 , December 2012 , pp. 323 - 332
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1Pretty, J., Sutherland, W.J., Ashby, J., Auburn, J., Balucombe, D., Bell, M., Bentley, J., Bickersteth, S., Brown, K., Burke, J., Campbell, H., Chen, K., Crowley, E., Crute, I., Dobbelaere, D., Edwards-Jones, G., Funes-Monzote, F., Godfray, H.C.J., Griffon, M., Gypmantisiri, P., Haddad, L., Halavatau, S., Herren, H., Holderness, M., Izac, A.-M., Jones, M., Koohafkan, P., Lal, R., Lang, T., McNeely, J., Mueller, A., Nisbett, N., Noble, A., Pingali, P., Pinto, Y., Rabbinge, R., Ravindranath, N.H., Rola, A., Roling, N., Sage, C., Settle, W., Sha, J.M., Shiming, L., Simons, T., Smith, P., Strzepeck, K., Swaine, H., Terry, E., Tomich, T.P., Toulmin, C., Trigo, E., Twomlow, S., Vis, J.K., Wilson, J., and Pilgrim, S. 2010. The top 100 questions of importance to the future of global agriculture. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability 8:219–236.Google Scholar
2IAASTD. 2008. Executive summary of the synthesis report. International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development. Available at http://www.agassessment.org/docs/IAASTD_EXEC_SUMMARY_JAN_2008.pdf (accessed January 16, 2012).Google Scholar
3Lundgren, B. 1982. Introduction [Editorial]. Agroforestry Systems 1:3–6.Google Scholar
4Jose, S. 2009. Agroforestry for ecosystem services and environmental benefits: An overview. Agroforestry Systems 76:1–10.Google Scholar
5Smith, J., Pearce, B.D., and Wolfe, M.S. 2012. Reconciling productivity with protection of the environment: Is temperate agroforestry the answer? Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems, doi:10.1017/S1742170511000585.Google Scholar
6Eichhorn, M.P., Paris, P., Herzog, F., Incoll, L.D., Liagre, F., Mantzanas, K., Mayus, M., Moreno, G., Papanastasis, V.P., Pilbeam, D.J., Pisanelli, A., and Dupraz, C. 2006. Silvoarable systems in Europe—past, present and future prospects. Agroforestry Systems 67:29–50.Google Scholar
7Von Maydell, H.-J. 1995. Agroforestry in central, northern and eastern Europe. Agroforestry Systems 31:133–142.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8Pretty, J. 2008. Agricultural sustainability: Concepts, principles and evidence. Philosophical Transaction of the Royal Society B 363:447–465.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9Sheldrick, R. and Auclair, D. 2000. Chapter 2. Origins of agroforestry and recent history in theUK. In Hislop, M. and Claridge, J. (eds). Bulletin 122. Agroforestry in the UK. Forestry Commission, Edinburgh. p. 7–16.Google Scholar
10Casals, P., Baiges, T., Bota, G., Chocarro, C., de Bello, F., Fanlo, R., Sebastia, M.T., and Taull, M. 2008. Chapter 8. Silvopastoral Systems in the Northeastern Iberian Peninsula: A multifunctional perspective. In Rigueiro-Rodríguez, A., McAdam, J., Mosquera-Losada, M.R., and Rosa, M. (eds). Agroforestry in Europe: Current Status and Future Prospects. Springer, Belfast. p. 161–182.Google Scholar
11Bunce, R.G.H., Perez-Soba, M., and Smith, M. 2008. Chapter 15. Assessment of the extent of agroforestry systems inEuropeand their role in transhumance systems. In Rigueiro-Rodríguez, A., McAdam, J., Mosquera-Losada, M.R., and Rosa, M. (eds). Agroforestry in Europe: Current Status and Future Prospects. Springer, Belfast.Google Scholar
12Buttler, A., Kohler, F., and Gillet, F. 2008. Chapter 19. The Swiss Mountain wooded pastures: Patterns and processes. In Rigueiro-Rodríguez, A., McAdam, J., Mosquera-Losada, M.R., and Rosa, M. (eds). Agroforestry in Europe: Current Status and Future Prospects. Springer, Belfast.Google Scholar
13Luick, R. 2008. Chapter 18: Wood pastures in Germany. In Rigueiro-Rodríguez, A., McAdam, J., Mosquera-Losada, M.R., and Rosa, M. (eds). Agroforestry in Europe: Current Status and Future Prospects. Springer, Belfast.Google Scholar
14Isted, R. 2005. Wood-pasture and parkland: Overlooked jewels of the English countryside. In Mosquera-Losada, M.R., McAdam, J., and Rigueiro-Rodríguez, A. (eds). Silvopastoralism and Sustainable Land Management. CABI Publishing, Wallingford. p. 400–401.Google Scholar
15Butler, J. 2006. Ancient pollards and maidens—securing their future. In 1er colloque europeen sur les trognes, 26–28 October, Vendome. Available at Web site http://www.maisonbotanique.com/dyn/17acte_8_butler.pdf (accessed January 17, 2012).Google Scholar
16Austad, I. and Hauge, L. 2006. Pollarding in western Norway. In 1er colloque europeen sur les trognes, 26–28 October, Vendome. Available at Web site http://www.maisonbotanique.com/dyn/14acte_4_austad_hauge.pdf (accessed January 17, 2012).Google Scholar
17Read, H. 2006. A brief review of pollards and pollarding in Europe. In 1er colloque europeen sur led trognes, 26–28 October. Available at Web site http://www.maisonbotanique.com/dyn/12acte_2_read.pdf (accessed January 17, 2012).Google Scholar
18Shaw, E.B. 1940. Geography of mast feeding. Economic Geography 16(3):233–249.Google Scholar
19Brownlow, M.J.C. 1994. The Characteristics and Viability of Land-Use Systems which Integrate Pig or Poultry Production with Forestry in the UK. Department of Agriculture, University of Reading.Google Scholar
20Bruun, H.H. and Fritzboger, B. 2002. The past impact of livestock husbandry on dispersal of plant seeds in the landscape of Denmark. Ambio 31(5):425–431.Google Scholar
21New Forest National Park. Pigs in Pannage [Website]. 2010. Available at Web site http://www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/pigs (accessed October 4, 2010).Google Scholar
22Moreno, G. and Pulido, F. 2008. Chapter 7. The functioning, management and persistence of Dehesas. In Rigueiro-Rodríguez, A., McAdam, J., Mosquera-Losada, M.R., and Rosa, M. (eds). Agroforestry in Europe: Current Status and Future Prospects. Springer, Belfast. p. 127–160.Google Scholar
23Castro, M. 2008. Chapter 6. Silvopastoral systems in Portugal: Current status and future prospects. In Rigueiro-Rodríguez, A., McAdam, J., Mosquera-Losada, M.R., and Rosa, M. (eds). Agroforestry in Europe: Current Status and Future Prospects. Springer, Belfast. p.111–126.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
24McAdam, J., Burgess, P.J., Graves, A.R., Rigueiro-Rodríguez, A., and Mosquera-Losada, M.R. 2008. Chapter 2: Classifications and functions of agroforestry systems in Europe. In Rigueiro-Rodríguez, A., McAdam, J., Mosquera-Losada, M.R., and Rosa, M. (eds). Agroforestry in Europe: Current Status and Future Prospects. Springer, Belfast. p. 21–42.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
25CPRE. 1999. Hedging your Bets: is Hedgerow Legislation Gambling with our Heritage? Campaign for the Protection of Rural England, UK.Google Scholar
26Defra. 2005. Entry Level Stewardship Handbook. 1st ed. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, UK.Google Scholar
27Defra. 2005. Higher Level Stewardship Handbook. 1st ed. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, U, K.Google Scholar
28Carey, P.D., Wallis, S., Chamberlain, P.M., Cooper, A., Emmett, B.A., Maskell, L.C., McCann, T., Murphy, J., Norton, L.R., Reynolds, B., Scott, W.A., Simpson, I.C., Smart, M.C., and Ullyett, J.M. 2008. Countryside Survey: UK Results from 2007. NERC/Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster, UK. 105 pp.Google Scholar
29Oosterbaan, A. and Kuiters, A.T. 2008. Chapter 16. Agroforestry in theNetherlands. In Rigueiro-Rodríguez, A., McAdam, J., and Mosquera-Losada, M.R. (eds). Agroforestry in Europe: Current Status and Future Prospects. Springer, Belfast. p. 331–342.Google Scholar
30Bene, J.G., Beall, H.W., and Côté, A. 1977. Trees, Food and People—Land Management in the Tropics. IDRC, Ottawa.Google Scholar
31Bari, M.A. and Schofield, N.J. 1991. Effects of agroforestry-pasture associations on groundwater level and salinity. Agroforestry Systems 16:13–31.Google Scholar
32Wilkinson, A.G. 1999. Poplars and willows for soil erosion control in New Zealand. Biomass and Bioenergy 16:263–274.Google Scholar
33Albrecht, A. and Kandji, S.T. 2003. Carbon sequestration in tropical agroforestry. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 99(1–3):15–27.Google Scholar
34Montagnini, F. and Nair, P.K.R. 2004. Carbon sequestration: An underexploited environmental benefit of agroforestry systems. Agroforestry Systems 61:281–295.Google Scholar
35Schroeder, P. 1994. Carbon storage benefits of agroforestry systems. Agroforestry Systems 27:89–97.Google Scholar
36DeWalle, D.R. and Heisler, G.M. 1988. Use of windbreaks for home energy conservation. Agriculture. Ecosystems and Environment 22/23:243–260.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
37Mitlohner, F.M., Morrow, J.L., Dailey, J.W., Wilson, S.C., Galyean, M.L., Miller, M.F., and McGlone, J.J. 2001. Shade and water misting effects on behaviour, physiology, performance and carcass traits of heat-stressed feedlot cattle. Journal of Animal Science 79:2327–2335.Google Scholar
38Loreau, M. 2010. Linking biodiversity and ecosystems: Towards a unifying ecological theory. Philosophical Transaction of the Royal Society B 365:49–60.Google Scholar
39McCann, K.S. 2000. The diversity–stability debate. Nature 405:228–233.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
40Williams, P.A., Gordon, A.M., Garrett, H.E., and Buck, L. 1997. Chapter 2. Agroforestry inNorth Americaand its role in farming systems. In Gordon, A.M. and Newman, S.M. (eds). Temperate Agroforestry Systems. CAB International, Wallingford. p. 9–84.Google Scholar
41Nair, P.K.R., Bannister, M.E., Nair, V.D., Alavapati, J.R.R., Jose, S., and Long, A.J. 2005. Silvopasture in south-easternUnited States: More than just a new name for an old practice. In Mosquera-Losada, M.R., McAdam, J., and Rigueiro-Rodríguez, A. (eds). Silvopastoralism and Sustainable Land Management: Proceedings of an International Congress on Silvopastoralism and Sustainable Management held in Lugo, Spain, 2004. CABI Publishing, Wallingford. p. 72–82.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
42Schultz, R.C., Colletti, J. and Faltonson, R.R. 1995. Agroforestry opportunities for the United States of America. Agroforestry Systems 31:117–132.Google Scholar
43Rule, L.C., Colletti, J., Liu, T.P., Jungst, S.E., Mize, C.W., and Schultz, R.C. 1994. Agroforestry and forestry-related practices in the Midwestern United States. Agroforestry Systems 27:79–88.Google Scholar
44Nair, P.K.R., Bannister, M.E., Nair, V.D., Alavapati, J.R.R., Ellis, E.A., Jose, S., and Long, A.J. 2005. Silvopasture in south-eastern United States: more than just a new name for an old practice. In Mosquera-Losada, M.R., McAdam, J., and Rigueiro-Rodríguez, A. (eds). Silvopastoralism and Sustainable Land Management. CABI Publishing, Wallingford. p. 72–82.Google Scholar
45Moore, R.W. and Bird, P.R. 1997. Chapter 4. Agroforestry systems in temperate Australia. In Gordon, A.M. and Newman, S.M. (eds). Temperate Agroforestry Systems. CAB International, Wallingford. p. 119–148.Google Scholar
46Hawke, M.F. and Knowles, R.L. 1997. Chapter 3. Temperate agroforestry systems in New Zealand. In Gordon, A.M. and Newman, S.M. (eds). Temperate Agroforestry Systems. CAB International, Wallingford. p. 85–118.Google Scholar
47Wu, Y. and Zhu, Z. 1997. Chapter 5. Temperate agroforestry in China. In Gordon, A.M. and Newman, S.M. (eds). Temperate Agroforestry Systems. CAB International, Wallingford. p. 149–180.Google Scholar
48Dazhong, W., Yingxin, T., Xunhua, Z., and Yungzhen, H. 1992. Sustainable and productive agricultural development in China. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 39:55–70.Google Scholar
49Mosquera-Losada, M.R., McAdam, J., Romero-Franco, R., Santiago-Freijanes, J.J., and Rigueiro-Rodríguez, A. 2009. Chapter 1. Definitions and components of agroforestry practices in Europe. In Rigueiro-Rodríguez, A., McAdam, J., and Mosquera-Losada, M.R. (eds). Agroforestry in Europe: Current Status and Future Prospects, Springer, Belfast. p. 3–20Google Scholar
50Porter, J., Costanza, R., Sandhu, H., Sigsgaard, L., and Wratten, S. 2009. The value of producing food, energy and ecosystem services within an agro-ecosystem. Ambio 38(4):186–193.Google Scholar
51Kuemmel, B., Langer, V., Magid, J., De Neergaard, A., and Porter, J.R. 1998. Energetic, economic and ecological balances of a combined food and energy system. Biomass and Bioenergy 15(4/5):407–416.Google Scholar
52Anon. 2009. Pigs and willow go well together. Available at Web site http://www.agrsci.org (accessed September 28, 2009).Google Scholar
53Anon. 2011. SOLIBAM: Strategies for Organic and Low-input Integrated Breeding and Management 2011. Available at Web site http://www.solibam.eu (accessed March 15, 2011).Google Scholar
54Oltenacu, P.A. and Broom, D.M. 2010. The impact of genetic selection for increased milk yield on the welfare of dairy cows. Animal Welfare 9:39–49.Google Scholar
55Peoples, M.B., Brockwell, J., Herridge, D.F., Rochester, I.J., Alves, B.J.R., Urquiaga, S., Boddey, R.M., Dakora, F.D., Bhattarai, S., Maskey, S.L., Sampet, C., Rerkasem, B., Hauggaard-Nielsen, H. and Jensen, E.S. 2009. The contribution of nitrogen-fixing crop legumes to the productivity of agricultural systems. Symbiosis 48:1–17.Google Scholar
56Jose, S., Gillespie, A.R., and Pallardy, S.G. 2004. Interspecific interactions in temperate agroforestry. Agroforestry Systems 61:237–255.Google Scholar
57Walther, G.R., Post, E., Convey, P., Menzel, A., Parmesan, C., Beebee, T.J.C., Fromentin, J.M., Hoegh-Guldberg, O., and Bairlein, F. 2002. Ecological responses to recent climate change. Nature 416:389–395.Google Scholar
58Iverson, L.R. and Prasad, A.M. 1998. Predicting abundance of 80 tree species following climate change in the Eastern United States. Ecological Monographs 68(4):465–485.Google Scholar
59Millar, C.I., Stephenson, N.L., and Stephens, S.L. 2007. Climate change and forests of the future: managing in the face of uncertainty. Ecological Application 17(8):2145–2151.Google Scholar
60Phillips, S.L. and Wolfe, M.S. 2005. Evolutionary plant breeding for low input systems. Journal of Agricultural Science 143:245–254.Google Scholar
61Donald, P.F. and Evans, A.D. 2006. Habitat connectivity and matrix restoration: The wider implications of agri-environment schemes. Journal of Applied Ecology 43:209–218.Google Scholar
62Tscharntke, T., Klein, A.M., Kruess, A., Steffan-Dewenter, I., and Thies, C. 2005. Landscape perspectives on agricultural intensification and biodiversity—ecosystem service management. Ecology Letters 8(8):857–874.Google Scholar
63Bhagwat, S.A., Willis, K.J., Birks, H.J.B., and Whittaker, R.J. 2008. Agroforestry: A refuge for tropical biodiversity? Trends in Ecology and Evolution 23(5):261–267.Google Scholar
64Reisner, Y., de Filippi, R., and Herzog, F. 2007. Target regions for silvoarable agroforestry in Europe. Ecological Engineering 29(4):401–418.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
65Young, A. 1997. Chapter 1. Agroforestry, soil management and sustainability. In Young, A. (ed.). Agroforestry for Soil Management. CAB International, Wallingford. p. 1–22.Google Scholar
66Young, A. 1991. Change and constancy: An analysis of publications in Agroforestry Systems Volume 1–10. Agroforestry Systems 13:195–202.Google Scholar
67McAdam, J., Gazeau, S., and Pont, F. 1997. An assessment of farmer attitudes to agroforestry on sheep and cereal farms in Northern Ireland. Agroforestry Forum 8(3):5–8.Google Scholar
68Graves, A.R., Burgess, P.J., Liagre, F., Pisanelli, A., Paris, P., Moreno, G., Bellido, M., Mayus, M., Postma, M., Schindler, B., Mantzanas, K., Papanastasis, V.P., and Dupraz, C. 2008. Chapter 4: Farmer perceptions of silvoarable systems in seven European countries. In Rigueiro-Rodríguez, A., McAdam, J., Mosquera-Losada, M.R., and Rosa, M. (eds). Agroforestry in Europe: Current Status and Future Prospects. Springer, Belfast. p. 67–88.Google Scholar
69Doyle, C. and Thomas, T. 2000. Chapter 10. The social implications of agroforestry. In Hislop, A.M. and Claridge, J. (eds). Agroforestry in the UK. Bulletin 122. Forestry Commission, Edinburgh. p. 99–106.Google Scholar
70Current, D.A., Brooks, K.N., Ffolliott, P.F., and Keefe, M. 2009. Moving agroforestry into the mainstream. Agroforestry Systems 75:1–3.Google Scholar
71Dupraz, C., Liagre, F., Manchon, O., and Lawson, G. 2004. Implications of legal and policy regulations on rural development: The challenge of silvoarable agroforestry in Europe. In IUFRO Division 1 Conference: Meeting the Challenge: Silvicultural research in a changing world, Montpellier, France.Google Scholar
72European Commission. 2009. Report on implementation of forestry measures under the Rural Development Regulation 1698/2005 for the period 2007–2013.Google Scholar