AFBI Lunchtime Lecture: "Agroforestry - from Science to Policy to Practice"
Date published:
On Wednesday 29th November at 1.30pm Professor Jim McAdam (Head of Grassland and Plant Science Branch) will be presenting a lunchtime lecture entitled “Agroforestry – from Science to Policy to Practice”. The lecture will be held in Room G5, AFBI Headquarters, 18a Newforge Lane, Malone Upper, Belfast, BT9 5PX.
In 2017 Agroforestry - as a sustainable land use option delivering a range of ecosystem services - was adopted into DAERA policy as an option in the new Environmental Farming Scheme. This success emanates from an AFBI research programme on Agroforestry (Silvopasture) which began almost 30 years ago when a replicated trial was planted at Loughgall as part of the Silvopastoral National Network Experiment. At Loughgall detailed comparisons were made between grassland, silvopastoral and woodland treatments and significant benefits of the Silvopasture shown. The practice has been recommended by the Expert Working Group on Sustainable Land Management in NI as delivering key grassland sustainability challenges.
The lecture will outline the objectives behind and key findings of the programme, focusing on key outcomes and potential for future research by AFBI scientists.