Periodic Reporting for period 3 - AGROMIX (AGROforestry and MIXed farming systems - Participatory research to drive the transition to a resilient and efficient land use in Europe)
Berichtszeitraum: 2023-11-01 bis 2024-10-31
Agriculture is a leading cause of climate change and land degradation, creating one of the greatest challenges for planet earth. Farming practices that follow agroecological principles with more agroforestry and mixed farming offer an opportunity for transforming landscapes. To lead this change AGROMIX, a 7 million Euro, (2000-2024), EU-Horizon-2020 RIA (Research and Innovation Action) project, has brought together the key European long-term replicated agroforestry trial sites (at least 20 years). Objectives achieved: 1) unlock the full potential of synergies in mixed farming and agroforestry; 2) develop and promote value chains and infrastructure for these systems; 3) develop a toolkit and a co-design approach for these systems; 4) identify and model key transition scenarios and trade-offs in climate-smart land use systems, value chains and infrastructure; 5) co-develop policy recommendations and action plans for a successful transition; and 6) maximise the impact and legacy of the project for building low-carbon, climate-resilient societies.
We conclude all objectives were achieved and the project has delivered new detailed results:
1) Agroforestry significantly increases above ground biodiversity. It can be as good as forest and outperforms monoculture.
2) Agroforestry (silvo-pasture) significantly improves micro-climate and animal welfare (heat stress) and subsequently animal production.
3) Agroforestry (silvo-arable) and mixed farming can stabilise crop yields under climate change.
4) Wheat yield (as proxy for other crops) is predicted higher in monoculture in the first half of the century when climate changes is less pronounced, beyond 2068 agroforestry is predicted higher yields relative to monoculture.
5) Agroforestry systems are not an extensification measure they maintain productivity, increase animal welfare and diversity.
6) Tree density: even 80 trees/ha can be “enough” to get a higher Land Equivalent Ratio (LER or total yield from land) e.g. a LER of 1.27 is predicted for barley in Ireland. This increases productivity also from 2050 onwards under more extreme climate scenario PCP8.5. Further research could realise agroforestry benefits also for soil health and below ground biodiversity.
We conclude all objectives were achieved and the project has delivered new detailed results:
1) Agroforestry significantly increases above ground biodiversity. It can be as good as forest and outperforms monoculture.
2) Agroforestry (silvo-pasture) significantly improves micro-climate and animal welfare (heat stress) and subsequently animal production.
3) Agroforestry (silvo-arable) and mixed farming can stabilise crop yields under climate change.
4) Wheat yield (as proxy for other crops) is predicted higher in monoculture in the first half of the century when climate changes is less pronounced, beyond 2068 agroforestry is predicted higher yields relative to monoculture.
5) Agroforestry systems are not an extensification measure they maintain productivity, increase animal welfare and diversity.
6) Tree density: even 80 trees/ha can be “enough” to get a higher Land Equivalent Ratio (LER or total yield from land) e.g. a LER of 1.27 is predicted for barley in Ireland. This increases productivity also from 2050 onwards under more extreme climate scenario PCP8.5. Further research could realise agroforestry benefits also for soil health and below ground biodiversity.
AGROMIX created a conceptual framework of resilience in the context of mixed farming and agroforestry systems. We created a GIS database to model upscaling of these systems. The estimated total surface area of these systems in the EU is 7.7% of utilised agricultural area. Silvopastoral land use is dominant, while agroforestry systems with permanent crops are still relatively scarce.
AGROMIX developed a participative design approach for sustainable and resilient systems and organised workshops with farmers. We also created of a detailed catalogue comprising of 78 case studies in 12 countries across Europe, where user-friendly information can be accessed.
AGROMIX replicated field trials on key agroforestry sites across Europe have collected data on indicators of performance, carbon balance, animal welfare and biodiversity (flora and fauna). All field sites have statistical analysis in replicated trials and ongoing multi-year trials to ensure scientific rigour. In a paired comparison we analysed i) agroforestry against nearly sites with ii) mono-use (pasture or arable) and iii) woodland. This made it possible to make Europe wide assessments of the mixed agroforestry land use system versus the two mono-type land uses.
AGROMIX improved computer simulation models to estimate performance and design novel approaches to predict resilience of complex systems, with improved detailed climate datasets scenarios until 2100 being integrated in the modelling.
AGROMIX carried out a multi-criteria assessment training with farmers, including analysis and selection of indicators for sustainability and resilience decision trees. It produced a handbook for participatory GIS mapping and carried out work to support the development of an online app.
AGROMIX analysed the socio-economic performance of agroforestry and mixed farming using farm accountancy databases (e.g. FADN), were possible. We also assessed value chain networks to identify successful value chains, obstacles and enabling factors. In addition farmer adoption motives of agroforestry and mixed farming were researched in 5 countries.
AGROMIX carried out an inventory of current policy contexts, instruments, and operational means to support of mixed farming and agroforestry systems. Further work was with a series 14 co-design policy workshops in 7 countries/federal states. This was done during 2023 and was feeding into the ‘AGROMIX summit’ in Brussels with further work at EURAF (European Agroforestry Federation) conference Brno and FAO (Food and Agricultural Organisation of the UN) World Food Day, Rome and the launch event of the AGROMIX agroforestry white paper in Brussels, October 2024.
The AGROMIX white paper makes recommendations how to change this e.g. with a European Agroforestry Strategy. This work had already many downloads and institutional endorsers. It can be endorsed here, also by individuals: https://agromixproject.eu/agromix-policy-white-paper(öffnet in neuem Fenster)
AGROMIX has worked to ensure continuous interaction and communication with all relevant stakeholders and the wider public with dissemination of results to maximise impact. We engaged with many other research projects and organised events on key issues around the topic of resilience. We created 12 Knowledge Exchange Hubs to share relevant information on studies, projects, events, key stakeholders in different languages.
AGROMIX developed a participative design approach for sustainable and resilient systems and organised workshops with farmers. We also created of a detailed catalogue comprising of 78 case studies in 12 countries across Europe, where user-friendly information can be accessed.
AGROMIX replicated field trials on key agroforestry sites across Europe have collected data on indicators of performance, carbon balance, animal welfare and biodiversity (flora and fauna). All field sites have statistical analysis in replicated trials and ongoing multi-year trials to ensure scientific rigour. In a paired comparison we analysed i) agroforestry against nearly sites with ii) mono-use (pasture or arable) and iii) woodland. This made it possible to make Europe wide assessments of the mixed agroforestry land use system versus the two mono-type land uses.
AGROMIX improved computer simulation models to estimate performance and design novel approaches to predict resilience of complex systems, with improved detailed climate datasets scenarios until 2100 being integrated in the modelling.
AGROMIX carried out a multi-criteria assessment training with farmers, including analysis and selection of indicators for sustainability and resilience decision trees. It produced a handbook for participatory GIS mapping and carried out work to support the development of an online app.
AGROMIX analysed the socio-economic performance of agroforestry and mixed farming using farm accountancy databases (e.g. FADN), were possible. We also assessed value chain networks to identify successful value chains, obstacles and enabling factors. In addition farmer adoption motives of agroforestry and mixed farming were researched in 5 countries.
AGROMIX carried out an inventory of current policy contexts, instruments, and operational means to support of mixed farming and agroforestry systems. Further work was with a series 14 co-design policy workshops in 7 countries/federal states. This was done during 2023 and was feeding into the ‘AGROMIX summit’ in Brussels with further work at EURAF (European Agroforestry Federation) conference Brno and FAO (Food and Agricultural Organisation of the UN) World Food Day, Rome and the launch event of the AGROMIX agroforestry white paper in Brussels, October 2024.
The AGROMIX white paper makes recommendations how to change this e.g. with a European Agroforestry Strategy. This work had already many downloads and institutional endorsers. It can be endorsed here, also by individuals: https://agromixproject.eu/agromix-policy-white-paper(öffnet in neuem Fenster)
AGROMIX has worked to ensure continuous interaction and communication with all relevant stakeholders and the wider public with dissemination of results to maximise impact. We engaged with many other research projects and organised events on key issues around the topic of resilience. We created 12 Knowledge Exchange Hubs to share relevant information on studies, projects, events, key stakeholders in different languages.
AGROMIX progress beyond the state of the art includes a resilience framework, the selection of indicators for the evaluation of these systems’ resilience, and the creation of a GIS database to integrate in modelling scenarios for land uses. These results are complemented by the creation of a catalogue of existing sites with available quantitative and qualitative data.
AGROMIX participative design methodology was implemented in 6 different systems and locations, complemented by sustainability and resilience assessments and the handbook for participatory GIS mapping.
AGROMIX publicly available academic peer-reviewed papers include beyond of the state-of-art results. They include statistical analysis of the field trials in the final project year. Aspects of biodiversity, novel methodology to model resilience, further tree species in existing models and the completion of modelled scenarios, including climate and economic data and agent based land use modelling are available. In addition, policy publications. (https://zenodo.org/communities/agromixproject(öffnet in neuem Fenster))
AGROMIX completed co-design activities on all 12 locations and the publication of a user-friendly “Handbook of collaborative design” for agroforestry implementation, widely accessible to farmers.
AGROMIX’s policy co-design approach which was based on literature and modelling, and then 14 bottom-up stakeholder workshops across Europe over a 2-year period. This participation was condensed into the ‘AGROMIX Summit’ and a policy white paper and in cooperation with several NGOs, sister projects MIXED, STARGATE, and other EU projects like REFOREST and DigitAF.
AGROMIX’s further work was on value chains and agroforestry innovation management preparing follow-on research for innovation in agroforestry supply chains (e.g. agromix-2).
AGROMIX participative design methodology was implemented in 6 different systems and locations, complemented by sustainability and resilience assessments and the handbook for participatory GIS mapping.
AGROMIX publicly available academic peer-reviewed papers include beyond of the state-of-art results. They include statistical analysis of the field trials in the final project year. Aspects of biodiversity, novel methodology to model resilience, further tree species in existing models and the completion of modelled scenarios, including climate and economic data and agent based land use modelling are available. In addition, policy publications. (https://zenodo.org/communities/agromixproject(öffnet in neuem Fenster))
AGROMIX completed co-design activities on all 12 locations and the publication of a user-friendly “Handbook of collaborative design” for agroforestry implementation, widely accessible to farmers.
AGROMIX’s policy co-design approach which was based on literature and modelling, and then 14 bottom-up stakeholder workshops across Europe over a 2-year period. This participation was condensed into the ‘AGROMIX Summit’ and a policy white paper and in cooperation with several NGOs, sister projects MIXED, STARGATE, and other EU projects like REFOREST and DigitAF.
AGROMIX’s further work was on value chains and agroforestry innovation management preparing follow-on research for innovation in agroforestry supply chains (e.g. agromix-2).