Abstract:

Silvoarable agroforestry comprises widely spaced trees inter-cropped with arable crops. This project builds on recent findings that indicate that modern silvoarable production systems are very efficient in terms of resource use, and could introduce an innovative agricultural production system that will be both environment-friendly and economically profitable. Growing high quality trees in association with arable crops in European fields may improve the sustainability of farming systems, diversify farmers incomes, provide new products to the wood industry, and create novel landscapes of high value. In support of the European Common Agricultural Policy, the SAFE project will provide models and databases for assessing the profitability of silvoarable systems, and will suggest unified European policy guidelines for implementing agroforestry.

To meet these expectations, this project will develop biophysical and socioeconomic tools to inform farmers and policy-makers of the potential for silvoarable agroforestry to contribute to the integrated and sustainable development of European rural areas. The final target is a coherent 'Agroforestry Policy Options' document which can be used by the EU to frame header and interpretative regulations, and by Member States or Autonomous Regions to assess the effect of forestry or agricultural grants on the uptake of agroforestry in the context of best European practice.

Contacts

Coordinator

• Christian DUPRAZ / INRA-UMR System de Culture Mediterraneens et Tropi System de Culture Mediterraneens et Tropicaux / FRANCE

Participant

• Nelly LECORRE-GABENS / Assemblee Permanente des Chambres d'Agriculture Sous-Direction des Politiques Agricoles et rurales / FRANCE
• Pierluigi PARIS / Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche Istituto per l'agroselvicoltura / ITALY
• Paul BURGESS / Cranfield University UNITED KINGDOM
• Eidgenossische Forschungsanstalt fur AgrarOkologie und Landbau / SWITZERLAND
• Nick JACKSON / Natural Environment Research Council Centre for Ecology and Hydrology / UNITED KINGDOM
• Gerardo MORENO / Universidad de Extramadura E U de Ingenieria Tecnica Forestal / SPAIN
• David PILBEAM / University of Leeds School of Biology / UNITED KINGDOM
• Vasilios PAPANASTASIS / University of Thessalonki Faculty of Forestry and Natural Environment / GREECE
• Wopke van der WERF / Wageningen University Department of Plant Science / NETHERLANDS