Agroforestry: A Natural Ally for Europe’s Future Farms

Europe’s farmland, often shaped by large, open fields, is on the brink of transformation. The Farm LIFE project is proving that trees belong in agriculture, not as obstacles but as allies in creating a climate-resilient food system. As the UN’s International Day of Forests of 2025 highlights the link between forests and food security, it's time to rethink how we cultivate the land.

Rewriting the European Landscape

Conventional farming, which has been practiced for centuries, has led farmers to monoculture, overuse of chemical inputs, and heavy tillage to meet the global population's increasing demands. These practices, however, left the soils depleted and vulnerable to extreme weather events, which occur more and more frequently due to climate change. However, a fresh approach is taking root. Agroforestry, the integration of trees, crops, and livestock on the same land, offers a more resilient alternative.

The Farm LIFE project has already been implemented across six locations in the Netherlands and Belgium. The system has already proved that can:

Boost biodiversity by 30% since trees attract more birds, pollinators, and beneficial fungi.
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 428% for certain crops, such as walnuts.
Improve soil quality and minimize water consumption.

However, agroforestry isn’t just a European experiment. Its principles have been tested and refined across different climates, offering valuable insights into how trees can transform food production.

Lessons from the Tropics

Syntropic Agroforestry in Curaçao

In Curaçao, forest farmer Roland van Reenen discovered firsthand how trees could restore degraded land and eliminate the need for daily irrigation. In 2019, he introduced syntropic agroforestry, inspired by the legendary Ernst Götsch's methods. Initially skeptical, van Reenen and his team were convinced that their semi-arid environment required 4 liters of water per square meter daily to keep crops alive.

But after six months of agroforestry, experts challenged them to stop irrigation for just three days. To their amazement, the crops thrived without water. They extended the dry period (five days, ten days, twenty) until they realized their farm only needed irrigation once every three weeks.

This experiment shattered conventional wisdom about water use in farming. The key wasn't rainfall but soil health. Trees provided organic matter, improved moisture retention, and created a self-sustaining ecosystem.

Alley Cropping: A Key Agroforestry Strategy

A similar approach, alley cropping, has shown significant potential in the subhumid tropics. Agronomist Torsten Mandal highlights that this agroforestry practice involves planting rows of nitrogen-fixing trees like Calliandra calothyrsus, Gliricidia sepium, or Leucaena species between crops. These trees improve soil fertility, reduce erosion, and provide valuable fodder for livestock.

Calliandra calothyrsus hedge

Photo by Torsten Mandal in a dry season.

However, Mandal warns that without proper management, trees can compete with crops for water and nutrients. In Ethiopia, maize yields were significantly reduced when grown near trees like Cordia or Acacia. Tree legumes, though less competitive, still require careful pruning to prevent excessive shading and water consumption. Mandal emphasizes that tailored pruning cycles, direct seeding methods, and low-cost management strategies can make alley cropping both effective and accessible for small-scale farmers.

Agroforestry is Not One-Size-Fits-All

The success of agroforestry depends on tailored approaches that align with local conditions. Farm LIFE has implemented tree-based farming and created a dedicated agroforestry food label, helping consumers recognize and support sustainable agriculture.

However, for widespread adoption, farmers need serious policy support. They need policies that actually make sense. Financial incentives that recognize the public benefits trees provide, practical technical guidance from people who've actually done this work, and legal frameworks that encourage innovation instead of suppressing it.

A Forest in Every Field?

Agroforestry isn’t about turning a farm into a forest. It’s about creating landscapes that work with nature and not against it. The evidence is right in front of us. Syntropic systems in Curaçao and walnut orchards in Belgium ensure that trees are part of farming. Trees protect soil, boost biodiversity, create microclimates, and can even increase overall productivity when done right.

With Europe's climate going changing rapidly, biodiversity in freefall, and soils degrading by the day, we can't afford to keep trees and farming separate anymore. The real question isn't whether we should integrate trees into our farming systems - it's how quickly we can make it happen.