H2020 AGROMIX Project: AGROforestry and Mixed Farming Systems: Participatory research to drive the transition towards resilient and efficient land use in Europe

We created a conceptual framework for resilience in the context of mixed farming and agroforestry systems, identified their benefits, and developed a methodology for identifying resilience. We reviewed the extent of these systems in Europe and how these areas will be affected by climate change. We created a GIS database to model the expansion of these systems. The estimated total area of these systems in the EU is 7.7% of the utilized agricultural land. Silvopastoral land use predominates, while agroforestry systems with permanent crops are relatively rare. The results also indicate greater land-use versatility in Southern Europe.

Additional information, including small forest elements, will be published soon. We developed a participatory design approach for sustainable and resilient systems and held workshops with farmers. We also created a detailed catalog that currently includes 78 case studies in 12 countries across Europe, where information can be accessed intuitively. Our field trials have measured and collected data on key performance indicators, carbon balance, and biodiversity. All field sites have replicated trials and ongoing multi-year trials to ensure the highest possible scientific rigor. We improved models for estimating yield and designed innovative approaches to predicting the resilience of complex systems, integrating climate dataset scenarios up to 2100. We conducted multi-criteria assessment training with farmers, which included the analysis and selection of indicators for sustainability and resilience decision trees.

We developed a manual for participatory mapping using GIS and worked to support the development of an online application. We developed a conceptual framework applicable to these agricultural systems and analyzed their socioeconomic performance, highlighting differences among them in terms of typologies and economic variables. Agroforestry is not currently integrated into universally accepted accounting databases, suggesting the need to adjust economic databases to better understand the changes resulting from the integration of various types of activities.

We also assessed value chain networks to identify successful value chains, obstacles, enabling factors, and development opportunities, and analyzed infrastructure. We conducted an inventory of current policy contexts, instruments, and operational means to support mixed farming and agroforestry systems and have published two peer-reviewed policy articles. Work is underway on 14 policy co-design workshops, held in 2023, which will inform the AGROMIX policy summit in Brussels on April 17, 2024. Our analysis confirms that policies are highly heterogeneous and that agroforestry, and even less so mixed farming, is not always explicitly included or specifically supported. We formulated recommendations to change this situation. We have worked to ensure ongoing interaction and communication with all relevant stakeholders and the general public, disseminating the results to maximize impact.

We collaborate with other research projects and organize events on key topics related to resilience. We created 12 Knowledge Exchange Centers to share relevant information on studies, projects, events, and key stakeholders in different languages.