Agroforestry för svenska förhållanden 2024 - Flipbook - Page 68
production or berry and fruit orchards. Regarding
silvopastoral systems, where trees fulfil the function of
a landscape element or timber supply (forest grazing,
natural pastures, sheep farming, reindeer grazing),
the Swedish Board of Agriculture and county administrative boards offer advice, as there is environmental compensation linked to these grazing systems. To
practically support the creation of forest and pasture
mosaics, the Swedish University of Agricultural
Sciences and the Swedish Environmental Protection
Agency have developed map material and advisory
resources. These initiatives aim to create areas that
are not only economically viable but also promote
high natural values [48, 49].
More research projects, meeting points and major initiatives are needed!
A number of research and collaboration projects
are currently underway that explore the potential
for agroforestry in Sweden and highlight successful
examples [18]. One example is the field research at
Lönnstorp research station SITES Agroecological Field
Experiment, SAFE, where apple trees and windbreaks
have been established in co-cultivation with rotational
crops, with the aim of sequestering carbon and nitrogen and demonstrating overall yield performance
[49]. Another example is “Unhide Agroforestry” - a
knowledge exchange to be carried out in 2024 between Agroforestry Sweden and the Latvian Permaculture Association, funded by Erasmus+, where, among
other things, the potential and conditions for a future
advisory body will be discussed. At Angereds gård
(Angered Farm) outside of Angered in Gothenburg a
new demonstration and test site is being established.
Agroforestry konferensen 2022.
/ Agroforestry conference 2022.
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More research projects and extensive investments are
needed to scientifically estimate the extent to which
agroforestry can provide benefits for people, businesses and the environment at our latitudes. For example,
more research is needed on which tree species give
the best yield based on the chosen agroforestry
system, the farmer’s circumstances and the site conditions, but also how agroforestry affects soil health,
water quality and reduces erosion [46, 20].
Agroforestry has also started to receive more attention
in the education sector. In recent years, several programmes in agroforestry have been initiated at university level, in adult education at high school level and
in folk high schools (see Info-box). Students in these
programmes often start their own agricultural businesses, often small-scale enterprises, and integrate high
complexity into their production through, for example,
agroforestry.
An outlook for the future
Today, knowledge exchange between practitioners
takes place mostly in informal contexts. More formal
networks need to be established, possibly through
ERFA (exchange of experience) groups. These groups
constitute forums where participants jointly focus on
a topic and exchange experiences with each other.
County administrative boards have previously coordinated ERFA groups in regenerative agriculture and it’s
possible to create a formal network with an agroforestry focus [31].
In spring 2024, the Swedish Board of Agriculture will
publish information material aimed at advisors in
