Farm LIFE: transforming European farming with trees

Conventional European farming tends to favour large, open fields with few trees to get in the way of growing crops. But the Farm LIFE project believes mixing woodlands into the agricultural landscape could be a vital part of climate-proofing Europe’s farming sector. 

‘Our project set out to revolutionise European farming by integrating agroforestry systems into the agricultural landscape,’ says Eurídice Leyequién, coordinator of the project and professor of management of forested landscapes at Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences in Leeuwarden, Netherlands. ‘Our innovative approach to farming involves growing a mix of trees and shrubs with crops and even livestock on the same patch of land.’  

More than a third of the total land area of the European Union – 157 million ha – is used for producing food and other agricultural products. Most of the EU’s 9.1 million farms, however, still use conventional farming practices including monocropping, chemical fertilisers and tilling which contribute to poor soil quality,  biodiversity loss and climate vulnerability, says Leyequién.  

Agroforestry, on the other hand, supports diverse habitats and helps farmers cope with climate-driven extreme weather risks – a message underlined this year as the UN’s International Day of Forests focuses on food.  

Farm LIFE encouraged farmers to adopt agroforestry in 6 locations across the Netherlands and Flanders, Belgium. They used customised plans to integrate trees, shrubs, crops and animals together on a total of 102 ha of farmland, resulting in a 30% increase in biodiversity, boosting plants, fungi, birds, butterflies and other wildlife. The environmental impacts of agroforestry were also lower than conventional farming — walnuts grown using agroforestry, for example, resulted in 120-428% fewer greenhouse gas emissions and 100% less additional water use. 

Dutch farmer Jan van der Horst is one of those to see the benefits. ‘We see the transition to agroforestry as an answer to the problems we face on our farm, especially with drought, poor soil and the absence of landscape elements,’ he says. Jan’s 11 ha agroforestry plot on poor sandy soil now produces sweet chestnuts, walnuts and hazelnuts alongside grains. 

The project also developed a dedicated agroforestry food label to help to boost recognition among consumers. But - says Leyequién -, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, farmers need tailored support to help them develop sustainable, financially viable agroforestry. ‘Policy engagement is key, as governments should facilitate agroforestry adoption through supportive legislation,’ she adds.  

A LIFE Platform Meeting on forest restoration is due to be held in Brasov, Romania, from 3-5 June. 

The Farm LIFE project contributes to the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030,  EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change and the EU Climate Law.