Farm enterprise benefits
By implementing regenerative practices farmers can enjoy a range of enterprise benefits.
Profit
Agroforestry can provide economic benefits to the farm enterprise. From increased productivity and diversified yields to reduced external inputs and optimized resource efficiency – the possibilities are many.
Resilience
Agroforestry improve soil health and watersheds, which in turn increases the resilience of the land. This helps to reduce the impact extreme weather like droughts and floods have on the enterprise. Adapt your farm to more extreme climate through agroforestry and lower your risks.
Independence
Agroforestry enhances the internal uilization of resources which makes the enterprise more independent from expensive external inputs. By implementing agroforestry it is possible to reduce external dependency and regain control to pursue the ventures that is right for you.
Regenerative benefits
Climate mitigation
Through photosynthesis trees and shrubs in agroforestry system can sequester and store large amounts of carbon in soil and biomass. Additionally agroforestry is proven to reduce other greenhouse gas emissions such as methane through silvopasture. This makes agroforestry ideal for mitigating climate change. On project drawdowns list of solutions to reverse climate change, agroforestry practices rank high. The rank of agroforestry farming practices are: #9 Silvopasture, #14 Tropical Stable Trees, #17 Alley Cropping, #23 Farmland Restoration and #28 Food Forests.
Soil health
Soil is a farmers greatest resource. Soil is a system of complex organic and inorganic components that provide invaluable services to the enterprise and society. From storage of carbon and water to nutrient cycles – The soil food web creates enormous value. Trees and shrubs have a unique relationship with soil microbes and fungi. This is also the case in agroforestry systems where the presence of trees and shrubs increase SOC, water retention, nutrient availability and various other processes either directly or through their symbiosis with microbes and fungi.
Increased biodiversity
The silent crisis of our time is loss of biodiversity. Agroforestry help to improve biodiversity in the system. This can help to provide habitat for pollinators or enhance natural pest management. This way agroforestry also improve ecosystem services for the farm which provide economic benefits. Additionally, biodiversity fosters a more robust system that can endure in more extreme weather.
Water Quality
Water is the single most important nutrient to life as we know it. Without water, life cannot exist. Agroforestry improve water retention and water availability for the farmer. In addition trees and shrubs remove nutrients and substances that pollute waterways and cause eutrophication. This ensures a steady supply of clean water for the farm enterprise and society.