Agroforestry: a new innovation in Irish agriculture
Ian Short & Rachel Irwin tell us that over the last few years, the interest in planting agroforestry, as a climate change mitigation and adaptation strategy, has risen in Ireland, with supports for increasing tree cover on farms available under the suite of forestry grants provided by the Department
However, although agroforestry provides multiple benefits to both the farmer and the environment, uptake has lagged behind predictions. The recent announcement of new highly attractive grants and premia may now increase interest and uptake further. Recent studies have focused on understanding this lack of uptake through identifying the attitudes and perceptions of farmers, including the barriers to uptake, at a farm level. The results demonstrate a need for further understanding and knowledge of agroforestry amongst the farming community. They also identify barriers relating to the re-designation of land to forestry and need for more financial models and forecasting, leading to uncertainty and a need for risk minimisation. As a result, agroforestry remains a “new” and “novel” land management practice therefore characterised as an innovation.
To build on the research to date on the barriers to uptake of agroforestry in Ireland, a recent study using the Innovation Systems approach was conducted. This study interviewed stakeholders from various aspects of the agricultural sector, including agroforesters, advisors, processors, consumers, charities and Department of Agriculture officials, prior to the commencement of the new grants and premia The research used a combination of a structural-functional analysis whereby both the structural failures, such as insufficient interaction between stakeholders and a lack of specific market for agroforestry products, and the functional failures, such as a lack of farmers engaging in agroforestry and promotion and dissemination of agroforestry research. The results identified a number of failures, known as blocking mechanisms, which are currently in place and impeding uptake. These range from low levels of knowledge of agroforestry amongst a wide number of stakeholders to insufficient grant aid structuring, a need for knowledge dissemination to farmers across all stakeholders to support the ongoing work of Teagasc, lack of promotion, and the need for further economic evaluations and predictions for converting to agroforestry.
The current research concluded in a number of recommendations set out as goals to be reached in order to break down the current barriers in place and increase agroforestry uptake in Ireland. These goals, in combination with a more in-depth description of the results to date, will be provided through a presentation to be given by Walsh Scholar Rachel Irwin at the upcoming Irish Agroforestry Forum Conference being held in Bantry in Cork from 16th to 17th November.
This upcoming two-day conference, aptly titled “Farmer-led Adaptation and Mitigation, Why and how trees on farms can help!” will include presentations from a wide variety of stakeholders including Irish and international researchers, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine officials, Teagasc and private forestry and agricultural advisors, farmers and agroforesters, and charitable organisations. The aim of this conference is to promote the wide range of benefits of agroforestry in an Irish context and allow stakeholders to directly engage with farmers and landowners and respond to their concerns. Throughout the conference, current successful agroforestry models from Ireland and abroad will be provided including demonstrations on how trees can increase the connectivity between farmers and consumers. Keynote speakers will include: Minister Pippa Hackett, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Clive Bright, agroforester and owner of Rare Ruminare; and, Professor Jim McAdam, often referred to as the father of agroforestry research in Ireland.
During the second day of the conference, attendees will have the opportunity to visit various agroforestry farms located within the Cork area. Two of these farms were funded under the GPC 11 grant for agroforestry, the first of which includes a visit to a 3-year-old 2.4 hectare agroforestry system. This incorporates both sheep and broadleaf trees, known as silvopasture, with trees established at 8m spacing and an inclusion of 15% fruit and nut-bearing trees. The second farm consists of two 8-year-old broadleaf agroforestry plots, one silvopastoral plot incorporating sheep, and a silvoarable plot incorporating aronia berries. Not only do these farms provide great examples of successful silvopastoral and silvoarable systems incorporating broadleaves with sheep and crops, they also provide excellent examples of how forage crops, such as silage and hay, can still be produced on such plots. The final farm visit will take place on a silvopastoral farm where both free-range pork and firewood is produced. This farm also provides a great example of how alternative non-agricultural income streams, such as tourism and forest-bathing can be produced on agroforestry plots.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the participants of the surveys that gave so willingly of their time, expertise and experience.
Related articles
The following related scientific articles have been published open-access and are free to download:
Irwin, R., Ní Dhubháin, Á. and Short, I. 2022. Irish dairy and drystock farmers’ attitudes and perceptions to planting trees and adopting agroforestry practices on their land. Environmental Challenges 9, 100636. DOI: 10.1016/j.envc.2022.100636.
Irwin, R., Short, I., Mohammadrezaei, M. and Ní Dhubháin, Á. 2023. Increasing tree cover on Irish dairy and drystock farms: The main attitudes, influential bodies and barriers that affect agroforestry uptake. Environmental Science & Policy 146: 76-89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2023.03.022
Irwin, R., Short, I. and Ní Dhubháin, Á. 2022. Increasing tree cover on Irish dairy and drystock farms: what are the main barriers and perceptions that impede agroforestry uptake? Forestry & Energy Review 12(1): 50-51.Authors: Rachel Irwin (Walsh Scholar – Teagasc Forestry Development Dept. and UCD); Ian Short (Teagasc Forestry Development Dept.)