Agroforestry i Europe – a practical handbook
Agroforestry is the intentional integration of trees in agriculture. It involves cultivating trees alongside crops and animals to increase the productivity and profitability of farms, while also providing several environmental benefits.
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What is agroforestry?
Agroforestry is a land use system where trees and shrubs are deliberately integrated with crops and/or livestock on the same area of land. This integration is not incidental – it is intentional, interactive, and designed to harness synergies between woody perennials and agricultural components. Agroforestry includes both the integration of trees on farmland and the use of agricultural crops and livestock in woodlands.
According to the European Union (Regulation 1305/2013, Article 23), agroforestry is defined as: “Land use systems in which trees are grown in combination with agriculture on the same land.”
This includes both planting new trees and managing existing ones in ways that
bring benefits to the farm and the wider landscape. The practice encompasses a
wide variety of systems and designs, adapted to different landscapes, farm types,
and cultural contexts. Agroforestry is distinct from both forestry and conventional
agriculture. It also differs from mixed farming (which combines livestock and crops) by explicitly integrating woody perennials into the production system (Figure 1). It represents a hybrid approach that draws from both ecological principles and agricultural innovation.