Project
Assessing crop performance in silvoarable agroforestry systems in the Netherlands
Silvoarable agroforestry practices have gained renewed attention in Europe over the last few decades because they can deliver a wide range of ecosystem services, such as provisioning (food, fuel and fibre), support (e.g. nutrient cycling), regulation (e.g. biological pest control), and cultural services (e.g. recreation). These practices are theoretically suitable for large-scale managed landscapes and mechanized production systems. However, in Europe, silvoarable agroforestry systems are still rare and there is a lack of integrated quantitative analysis of crop productivity and product quality, and of pest and disease regulation delivered by different tree-crop combinations.
Background
The rapid growth of agriculture through expansion, intensification, and mechanization has significantly improved food production efficiency, helping to mitigate food shortages, reduce hunger, and alleviate poverty. However, industrial agriculture has also led to the simplification of agroecological systems, favoring low-diversity production systems that are more vulnerable to pests and diseases. Additionally, excessive chemical inputs have contributed to soil degradation, water pollution, and biodiversity loss.
Given the growing challenges of population growth, dietary shifts, climate change, and food insecurity, there is increasing recognition of the need for more sustainable and resilient farming practices—ones that ensure food production while maintaining healthy ecosystems. This urgency was underscored at the United Nations Food Summit on September 23, 2021, where many countries, including the Netherlands, endorsed the shift toward sustainable agriculture.
In response, there has been a growing interest among governments, scientists, farmers, and NGOs worldwide in exploring and implementing climate-adaptive and nature-inclusive agricultural systems.
Project description
The PhD project focuses on contributing to the design and implementation of effective silvoarable agroforestry practices in the Netherlands. This project will provide new insight on the effects of trees on surrounding environment and consequently on crop growth, biomass, yield, pest and disease occurrence. This will further provide a way forward for optimizing the design and implementation of silvoarable agroforestry systems. This PhD project is affiliated with the PPS Verdienmodellen Agroforestry initiative.