Agroforestry is a productive system of land use that combines trees and shrubs with crops and/or livestock on the same land. This ecological land-use system increases biodiversity, improves soil fertility, saves water, and mitigates climate change while sustaining productive agriculture.
By integrating woody perennials with farming, agroforestry produces complex and stable ecosystems. Trees offer shade, wind shelter, and habitat for beneficial wildlife and pollinators. Their extensive root structures stabilize soil, mitigate erosion, and enhance infiltration. Leaf litter and organic matter from the trees add nutrients to the soil, lowering the need for synthetic fertilizers.
Agroforestry systems may be in a variety of forms, such as alley cropping, silvopasture (livestock with trees), and forest farming. These systems enhance animal welfare and crop yields and improve farm sustainability in the long term. Trees also yield important products—fuelwood, timber, fruits, and nuts—that provide extra income opportunities for farmers.
Agroforestry is an important tool for carbon sequestration and climate resilience and one of the most important strategies for meeting the global environmental challenges. It benefits smallholder producers by providing diversified income, climate risk reduction, and improved food security.
Finally, agroforestry merges ancient wisdom with new ecological science to produce farming systems that serve people, the environment, and generations to come.