The Nature Conservancy in Michigan’s Post

GOVERNMENT FUNDING FOR AGROFORESTRY Several years ago, I wrote a piece here about how agroforestry could help to improve farm profitability and diversify the risk to the business. DEFRA have just announced that Agroforestry will be part of the 2024 SFI, many would agree that this funding is long overdue. https://lnkd.in/euv7Qf4d #agroforestry #grants #DEFRA #SFI #FCG

Based on the carbon program "Global Syntropic Agroforestry Program", GrowGrounds enters an exciting phase with the goals of implementing agroforestry projects with coffee farmers in Brazil, Nicaragua, Colombia, Peru, Mexico, Uganda and Ethiopia. And the world desperately needs action. Between 2001 and 2015, 314 million ha of tree cover has been lost worldwide and deforestation linked to agriculture is a major driver of climate change. Commodity-driven deforestation (including cattle pastureland, cocoa, coffee, soy, oil palm etc) and shifting agriculture contribute to 25% and 21% respectively of the total tree cover loss.  This amounts to almost 10 million ha less forest every year due to agricultural activities, resulting in alterations of weather patterns, food insecurity, damage to entire ecosystems, soils and wildlife. At GrowGrounds we grow business by growing nature.

We kickstarted our #goldstandard certification process with the PoA Design #Consultation yesterday. Are you curious to know more about our approach? Read on our key programme information and give #feedback! We want to hear your thoughts! Comment on this post and I will share the documents with you!

Representatives of the TRANSITION Project have contributed to the preparation of a new publication analysing the inclusion of agroforestry systems in the Spanish CAP Strategic Plan 2023-27, among other national and regional plans and regulations. The work was carried out in the framework of the Spanish Agroforestry Policy Working Group, with the support of the European Agroforestry Federation (EURAF) Federation (EURAF) and the DigitAF project of the Horizon Programme. Pillar I of the CAP, the European Commission's Common Agricultural Policy, emphasises some good agricultural and environmental conditions relevant to agroforestry, such as the preservation of landscape features and the prohibition of conversion of permanent pasture in protected areas. Eco-schemes provide incentives, six of which are applicable to agroforestry. One of the main conclusions of the publication is that the inclusion of agroforestry in Spain's own CAP Strategic Plan signals a commitment to sustainable land management, and highlights that continued monitoring and targeted support are crucial to realising the potential of agroforestry across the country. Find it here: https://lnkd.in/d4fdw8Tn

Do you know that not all trees are suitable for Agroforestry?🤔 📌In agroforestry, the selection of trees is crucial to the success of the system. Not all trees are suitable for agroforestry because some may compete too strongly with crops for nutrients, water, or sunlight, while others such as Neem may have allelopathic effects, releasing chemicals that inhibit the growth of neighbouring plants. 📍In agroforestry, trees are chosen based on various factors such as their root systems, canopy structure, nutrient requirements, and compatibility with the crops being grown. Trees that provide multiple benefits, such as nitrogen fixation, shade, wind protection, or habitat for beneficial insects, are often preferred. 📌Additionally, trees with deep taproots can help bring up nutrients from deeper soil layers, benefiting both the trees and the crops. 📍So, careful selection of tree species is essential in agroforestry to ensure harmonious coexistence and mutual benefits between trees and crops. 🤔Are you planning an Agroforestry project? You need expert guidance for success and I'm a DM away from partnering, collaborating and helping you. 📍Did you know before now that not all trees are compatible with agroforestry? 📍Do you find the above information helpful? Like, comment & repost because one of your connections might need this information #Softlifefarmer #Agroforestry #Agribusiness #SustainableAgriculture #FarmersForTheFuture #Agroecology #TreeCropIntegration #SustainableFarming #ClimateSmartAgriculture #Biodiversity #SoilHealth #RuralDevelopment #Thoughtleader

Agroforestry is the future of sustainable farming, and can include a range of other agroecological practices. However, its adoption in Europe faces several challenges. These include a lack of tools and data which can assess its economic, environmental, and social benefits, and monitor the impact of policies. To address these obstacles, #EURAF and 25 other consortium partners from 17 countries have joined forces in the DigitAF project that aims to: ✅ Support policy-makers in developing more effective policies to encourage agroforestry adoption and carbon farming. ✅ Provide farmers with tools to optimise the design and management of agroforestry systems at the field and farm levels. ✅ Enhance the capabilities of stakeholders to assess, quantify, and market the economic, environmental, and social performance and benefits of agroforestry. EURAF is assisted in these tasks by its extensive network of affiliates and members. Explore the project's resources: 👉 Summary of agroforestry-related policies in the CAP Strategic Plans of the 14 countries involved in the DigitAF Project: https://lnkd.in/dmWUGav9 👉 Self-service catalogue of agroforestry tools, data and projects. We invite everyone to contribute here: https://lnkd.in/dwpzsqVp

✨#SaveTheDate! 📌 Want to explore agroforestry systems in #Cameroon and the🌍: what definitions and ambitions for #sustainable #cocoa? 🍫 📅 Thursday, 18 April 2024 and Friday, 19 April 2024 🕒 9:30h CET ✍️Day 1: https://lnkd.in/dDVyUsWa ✍️Day 2: https://lnkd.in/d8gsHrtn During the workshop, expert panellists will review the diversity of definitions established to characterise #cocoa-based #agroforestry systems and study options for integration into policy, institutions and market incentives. 🎯 This seminar represents an opportunity to: 🔶Take stock of the definitions and issues associated with cocoa-based agroforestry systems, with reference to other products, including coffee. 🔶Present the diversity of criteria and thresholds used to define sustainable agroforestry cocoa, based on national case studies. 🔶Study options for enhancing the value of agroforestry cocoas through public policy, private market initiatives and investment, drawing on lessons from other products such as coffee.

Agroforestry Partners (AP) is pleased to announce an investment from Builders Vision, an impact platform that supports people and organizations building a more humane and healthy planet through philanthropy, investment, and advocacy. The investment was made through Builders Bridge, which fuels an investment portfolio at Builders Vision that focuses on catalyzing capital and scaling market solutions into essential, underserved opportunities in oceans, energy, and food & agriculture. AP is an alternative investment fund implementing agroforestry practices on American farms in the pursuit of economic and nature-based returns. Agroforestry practices include the alleycropping of traditional annual crops between perennial trees, silvopasture, riparian forest buffers, forest farming, and windbreaks. The fund is currently piloting chestnut and hay alleycropping investments in Kentucky and Ohio, while preparing for expansion into new geographic hubs in the eastern United States (e.g., the Northeast and Southeast). For the fund's initial phase, AP will expand production of domestic chestnuts by 3,500 acres, offsetting the 7.5 million pounds of imported nuts that are consumed in the U.S. annually. Since chestnuts are one of the few nuts that have both a carbon negative and water positive environmental impact, AP will continue to lead with its regenerative agriculture strategy. The investment from Builders Bridge has allowed AP to go beyond the pilot phase in Kentucky/Ohio and formalize its initial 3,500 acres in this region, while also laying the groundwork for geographic expansion.     "Builders Vision is thrilled to support Agroforestry Partners, as the fund's objectives are closely aligned with our mission around climate resilience and food security. Agroforestry is an important component of regenerative agriculture, but it is an entirely new asset class that needs to be proven out. We believe that AP is well positioned to scale its model and demonstrate agroforestry's role in rehabilitating soil, improving water quality and biodiversity, and increasing farm returns and farmer wealth. We are excited to see how the fund catalyzes other agroforestry projects around the country and ultimately incentivizes other investors to participate." -- Ellie Barker, Investments, Builders Initiative Learn more about Agroforestry Partners here: https://lnkd.in/gQf5s4VP. #impactinvesting, #realassets, #agroforestry, #regenerativeagriculture, #chestnuts, #alleycropping, #foodnutrition, #climate, #trees, #perennials

#mdpifire 🔥Reducing #Rural_Fire Risk through the Development of a Sustainable Supply Chain Model for Residual Agroforestry #Biomass Supported in a #Web_Platform: A Case Study in Portugal Central Region with the Project BioAgroFloRes ➡️https://lnkd.in/dBt4Q6iC

Yes you are right that not every tree is good for agroforestry, but any forester knows this as you mentioned agroforestry is an integration of crops and trees. though some trees that are nitrogen fixer sometimes they tend to dominate the area, taking an example of Leucaena leucocephala, this tree is good for agroforestry, but they tend to "invade" the area as when seeds falls down they germinate quickly an within a short time all the area will be covered with leucaena leucocephala Have you heard anything about agrosilvi-pasture?