Contact/s:
Ian Knight
ian.knight@abacusagri.com
From Demonstration to Adoption: Using the UK’s Agroforestry Living Lab to Increase Agroforestry Uptake for Farmers and Advisors
UK
United Kingdom, temperate climate, however the Living Lab approach is transferable to other temperate farming regions across the EU.
1. Peer-to-peer confidence – Seeing agroforestry in practice helps farmers and advisors discuss management, risks and business trade-offs.
2. Co-created knowledge exchange – Farmer and advisor feedback makes training and demonstrations more relevant to practical needs.
3. Transferable learning tools – Training courses, demonstration sites and digital exchange tools can support wider advisory networks.
Thematic Areas
Production System/s
Summary for Practicioners on the Main Finding(s)/Innovative solution(s)
Agroforestry can strengthen farm climate resilience, soil protection, carbon storage, biodiversity and diversification, but farmer interest does not automatically lead to adoption. The UK Climate Farm Demo Agroforestry Living Lab found that farmers and advisors want practical examples, management detail and economics to build confidence towards adopting new practices.
The Living Lab uses Whitehall Farm in Cambridgeshire – a working 52 ha silvoarable system with 4,500 apple trees alongside national events, training and digital exchange. Farmers, advisors, researchers, NGOs and policy stakeholders use the real farm setting to discuss how agroforestry fits commercial farming. Farm walks, demonstrations, small-group discussion and follow-up exchange connect technical evidence with farmer experience.
The main lesson is to treat demonstration as a cooperative learning process. Starting with a working example, agreeing with practical learning objectives. Giving farmers and advisors time to question design, establishment, machinery, management, tenancy, funding, economics and risk. Then capture feedback and provide follow up resources.
This process has generated reusable Climate Farm Demo outputs. A BASIS accredited Foundation Award in Agroforestry, a repeatable on farm agroforestry demonstration format and an agroforestry information exchange platform concept. These outputs build advisory capacity, strengthen confidence and help move farmers towards farm planning and adoption of agroforestry.
Additional Information
The strongest facilitating factor is a real working agroforestry system combined with trusted farmer and advisor discussion. The UK Living Lab has found that practical examples and economics generate strong engagement. Using established farming events also widens reach beyond the core Living Lab and helps recruit farmers, advisors and other AKIS stakeholders.
Key obstacles remain. Agroforestry requires long term planning and site-specific design, while uncertain returns, tenancy considerations, changing government support and the time required to attend events can impact on farm investment. The Living Lab has also had to work around diary pressure and geographically dispersed stakeholders. Digital contact helps maintain momentum but hasn’t altered the focus that on farm learning delivers.
For replication, use Living Lab demonstrations as a planned sequence of events – a roadmap to adopt agroforestry. Define the learning need, visit the field and the working system, facilitate peer discussion, identify future actions and follow up with quality training resources. Future monitoring should track whether farmers and advisers progress from basic awareness to more technical skills in planning, design and establishment. The three priority exploitable results, accredited training, the on-farm demo format and an information exchange platform can be adapted by other CFD Living Labs and advisory networks.
Additional Dissemination and Communication Materal(s)
Climate Farm Demo Practice Abstract #90 Farming with trees. Opportunities through agroforestry. UK examples, including Whitehall Farm, showing how agroforestry can be integrated into commercial farming.
The Agroforestry Handbook. Agroforestry for the UK. Practical guidance for farmers and advisors on system types, design, management, economics and implementation.
UK Government Guide to agroforestry Definitions, system types and links to current support and guidance.
Farm Woodland Forum UK network for farmers, foresters, researchers and advisors interested in farming with trees and agroforestry knowledge exchange.