Themes

 

Theme 1 - Getting Started & Case Studies

• Showcase agroforestry case studies from both established systems (10+ years) and shorter-term quick wins (1-2 years).

• Tools and tips for increasing economic returns from agroforestry systems in the short, medium, and long term.

• Best practices for establishing agroforestry, especially in drought years, and how farmers can self-assess and monitor agroforestry benefits.

• Protection and management of in-field trees, and the role of veteran trees within farm landscapes.

• Suggested workshop/demonstration: Practical tree planting techniques, including a hands-on tree planting competition and pruning high-value hardwoods.

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Theme 2 - Forestry and Tree Sector

• Exploring how the quality and quantity of timber produced through in-field agroforestry compares to traditional forestry.

• Opportunities for farmers to retrofit woodlands as agroforestry systems and the potential for agroforestry to support on-farm energy production and circularity.

• Tree nursery management and the integration of forestry practices into agroforestry systems, along with ecological pest management practices.

• Suggested demonstration: Machinery for agroforestry tasks like hedge rolling, tree shears, and tree planting.​

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Theme 3 - Species and Design

• Designing functional understory layers and selecting companion plants for agroforestry systems.

• The impact of different tree species on biodiversity, ecosystem services, and farm economics over 5, 10, and 30 years.

• Suggested talk/workshop: Designing agroforestry systems that optimise for ecosystem services and farm productivity.

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Theme 4 - Public Good and Ecosystem Services

• Agroforestry’s role in enhancing habitat connectivity, improving nutrient retention, water quality, and microclimates.

• Agroforestry’s impact on farm resilience to climate change and its contribution to net-zero, biodiversity, and food security.

• The role of agroforestry in improving soil health and ecology.

• Suggested workshop: How agroforestry contributes to farm resilience, with a focus on water management and integrating climate adaptation strategies.​

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Theme 5 - Silvoarable and Silvopasture Systems

• The role of nitrogen-fixing trees in silvoarable systems and the impact of agroforestry on farm inputs, crop yields, and sustainability.

• The potential of silvopasture in enhancing livestock health and yield, and how agroforestry can be designed for animal welfare and production.

• Suggested demonstration: Deer management, including venison cooking and butchery demos, as well as livestock shade benefits from tree planting.

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Theme 6 - Policy, Markets, and Financial Models

• Identifying market gaps for agroforestry products and exploring financial models, policy incentives, and funding opportunities to make agroforestry more accessible and economically viable.

• Overcoming barriers to implementing agroforestry on tenanted land and improving the quality of advice provided to farmers by knowledge intermediaries.

• Suggested talk/workshop: Exploring funding and economic support for agroforestry, including information about the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and private financing opportunities.

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Theme 7 - Restoring and Reconnecting Landscapes

• Lessons from forest gardening for farm woodland, including the design of food forests and the integration of agroforestry into landscape restoration efforts.

• Suggested workshop: Designing and managing food forests, with case studies on farm woodland restoration and landscape connectivity.​

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