Cultivating Sustainable Agroforestry - Future Directions

32 Pages·2013·3.19 MB·English

by  Multimedia Developer

Acknowledgments
The Delta Farmers’ Institute and UBC Farm would like to thank all of the
presenters, attendees, volunteers and organizers of Cultivating Sustainable
Agroforestry, for contributing to the success of the workshop.

Funding for the British Columbia Agroforestry Industry Development Initiative (AIDI) has been
provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program
(CAAP). In British Columbia, this program is delivered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC.
The Province of British Columbia provides in-kind support to the AIDI. The AIDI is
administered by the Federation of BC Woodlot Associations with the guidance of the Agroforestry
Management Committee. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) is committed to working with
industry partners.
Opinions expressed in this document are those of the authors and not necessarily those of AAFC.

Funding provided by: In-kind support provided by:
Cultivating Sustainable Agroforestry Workshop Proceedings

Table of Contents
Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................. 1
Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................ 2
Objective ............................................................................................................................................. 3
Background ....................................................................................................................................... 5
Schedule ……………………..……………………………………………………………………………………….…..7
Workshop summary……….…………………………………………………………………………………….8
Main ideas and recommendations .......................................................................................... 12
Reflections & Feedback …………………………………………………………………………………… 19
Speaker abstracts and biographies ........................................................................................ 20
David Trotter: Agroforestry; BC perspective ................................................................................... 20
Link to presentation video and document ................................................................................................ 20
Kelleen Wiseman: Business planning for your agroforestry venture .................................... 21
Link to presentation video and document……………………………………………………………….…….21
Peter Andres: Hazelnuts in BC; the industry and EFB. ................................................................. 22
Link to presentation video and document……………………………………………………………….…….22
Robin Clark and Taylor White: Carbon and agroforestry; an integrated strategy ........... 23
Link to presentation video and document ....................................................................................... 23
Tom O’Dell: Diversifying your space with disease resistent hazelnut varieties .................. 24
Link to presentation video and document ....................................................................................... 24
David Bradbeer: Functional elements of hedgerows ................................................................... 25
Link to presentation video and document ........................................................................................ 25
Shannon Berch: Mediterranean truffle orchards in BC .............................................................. 26
Link to presentation video and document ................................................................................................ 26
Scott Henderson: Farm and forest mushroom cultivation ................................................................ 27
Link to presentation video and document ................................................................................................ 27
References: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………....28
Workshop contacts:………………………………………………………………………………………...…….29

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Cultivating Sustainable Agroforestry Workshop Proceedings

Executive Summary

Agroforestry is the intentional and interactive practice of integrating trees with crops
and/or livestock, to provide multiple benefits. The methods employed are determined
by the management objectives and characteristics of the site. Agroforestry practices
often emulate natural systems and are often designed to achieve relatively low-
maintenance production. This may include combining trees and crops for efficient use of
space and complementary resource requirements (e.g., alley cropping), establishing
shelterbelts or hedgerows for pollinator, wildlife habitat and microclimate
enhancement, riparian zone buffers for increased bank stability and ecological health
improvements, forest farming, or grazing livestock in and around tree stands (e.g.,
silvopasture).
Agroforestry practices are age-old, though agroforestry as a discipline of study is
relatively new. Agroforestry is well developed in the southern hemisphere as a form of
traditional agriculture, (and more recently as a response to land degradation and space
limitations). European agricultural landscapes widely incorporated shelterbelts,
hedgerows and silvopasture practices traditionally. In British Columbia, agroforestry
practices are being explored now more than ever. To further the extension of
agroforestry practices in BC, research and financial support has been offered through
government initiatives, such as the Agroforestry Industry Development Initiative (AIDI),
and through collaboration among producers, industry, and researchers.
This report is meant to examine the future directions of agroforestry practices in British
Columbia and recap what came out of the Cultivating Sustainable Agroforestry workshop
held on September 29, 2012, at UBC Farm. The purpose of this workshop was to bring
together people from various backgrounds and areas of interest, to discuss the current
state of agroforestry in BC and opportunities for the continued development of this land
management practice.
The collaboration between 75 participants and 9 guest speakers made for a day of
dynamic dialogue and new connections within the agroforestry community. Facilitated
discussion allowed small groups to consider current challenges, successes and ideas of
agroforestry in BC and an on-site agroforestry demonstration tour helped coalesce
ideas from the day.
The following document outlines the workshop proceedings and offers considerations
and recommendations for moving agroforestry in BC forward. This document and the
agroforestry website that hosts it comprise the Future Directions package.
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Cultivating Sustainable Agroforestry

Who: Delta Farmers’ Institute and UBC Farm with funding from the Agroforestry
Industry Development Initiative (AIDI) for an audience of practitioners, students,
researchers, industry, government and interested public.
What: A day of presentations, demonstration and discussion.
Where: UBC Farm, 6182 South Campus Rd, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4
When: Saturday September 29, 2012, 9:00 a.m- 5:00 p.m.

Objective:

The goal of this workshop was not only to improve producers’, researchers’ and
aspiring practitioners’ understanding of agroforestry in BC, but to illustrate the dynamic
opportunities for ecological, economic and social benefits. Participants’ level of
agroforestry knowledge varied; some were newly introduced to these concepts, while
others were currently practicing agroforestry on their farms. This workshop was
designed to bring a variety of people together who share common interests and offer a
chance to explore topics relevant to the development of agroforestry in BC.
Further, the Cultivating Sustainable Agroforestry workshop was intended to:
1. Expand and strengthen partnerships

2. Demonstrate agroforestry practices

3. Improve market connections

4. Improve awareness, extension and education

Approach:

Below is a brief overview of how these goals were addressed:
1. The representation of backgrounds and experience of the attendees, the

collaborative setting and facilitated discussion process helped to build connection and
rapport between participants. Additionally, the scope of topics covered was designed to
have complimentary themes (e.g. truffles and hazelnuts) which brought relevant players
together and encouraged collaboration.
2. The UBC Farm boasts several on-going agroforestry initiatives which made it an

ideal workshop location. There are established hedgerows, site preparation for a
truffiére, a small Christmas tree farm and over 12 ha of second growth forest. UBC Farm
seeks to continue expanding their practices to become a regional demonstration and
education site for agroforestry practices.
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3. Attendees were asked to identify the process of bringing a product to market and

identify any barriers that currently exist. Connections between participants were made
which will contribute to increased involvement between researchers, industry and
practitioners, including new research partnerships, farmer-consumer connections and
academic networking.
4. The final goal of this workshop was to build awareness, set a precedent for

continued dialogue and disseminate the breadth of knowledge that is already available.
Education and extension was addressed by utilizing the voice of Delta Farmers’ Institute,
an important industry stakeholder capable of attracting and engaging the farming
community, and the UBC Farm, a leader and educator of sustainable food systems
research capable of reaching the student and broader community. UBC Farm is living
agroforestry laboratory that sees more than 50,000 visitors each year and hosts more
than 150 student projects conducted in collaboration with 18 departments and units, 9
faculties, and 5 schools. UBC Farm will continue to build upon the ideas and connections
brought about by the workshop to inform next steps toward development of
agroforestry practices onsite thereby ensuring long-term opportunities for agroforestry
research and demonstration.
Through developing this document and the UBC Farm Agroforestry website, the
organizers aim to maintain a continued dialogue and help support sharing of
information related to agroforestry in BC.

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Background

Historically, agroforestry has been practiced by many different peoples from the tropics
to temperate regions. Indigenous populations around the globe have employed
agroforestry production systems, as have European farming communities (particularly
shelterbelts and hedgerows) and, within the last century, agroforestry systems have
made their way across the Canadian landscape as well.
Although long-practiced, agroforestry remains one of the least studied systems. Today,
given climate change, increased demand for resources, degradation of soils, loss of
agricultural land and continued deforestation, agroforestry offers opportunities to
provide significant ecological, economic and social benefits, and is being more widely
explored here in BC.
Discussion of the challenges and triple bottom line benefits of agroforestry are
discussed on page 12. Below is a brief overview of agroforestry initiatives across
Canada.
Eastern Canada
The eastern provinces of Ontario and Quebec deserve mention for their expertise in
establishing riparian buffers to protect waterways. Planting riparian buffers enhance
the ecological benefits of a site in different ways depending on the dimensions of the
buffer. For example, a 5m buffer contributes to bank stability, while 10-300 m buffers
maintain wildlife habitat and stream protection (www.agr.gc.ca).
Hedgerows are also widely established. Windbreaks, sun shading and habitat corridors
are just some of the benefits provided by hedgerows.

Prairies:
In the prairies (Manitoba, Saskatchewan & Alberta), Agri-Food Canada’s Agri-
Environment Services Branch (AAFC-AESB), had been providing free seedlings and
technical support since 1901 to farmers to establish shelterbelts, through the Prairie
Shelterbelt Program. The program helped establish over 1000kms of shelterbelts
annually, which had tremendous benefits for the land, air and wildlife such as
protection from temperature extremes, high winds and blowing snow and desiccation.
Unfortunately, due to funding cuts, the program will deliver its last seedlings in spring
2013.
Like BC, open range grazing in forested land (silvopasture) is commonly practiced in the
prairies. Many of these systems involve alley cropping.

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British Columbia:
Agroforestry systems are gaining popularity in BC, and funding opportunities from AIDI
provided resources to explore and establish various projects around the province.
Silvopasture is perhaps the most common practice in BC, though increasingly, other
agroforestry systems are being developed and demonstrations of functioning
shelterbelts and hedgerows, forest farming and riparian buffers can be found
throughout the province. Considering the scope and size of BC’s fruit and nut tree
industry, alley cropping exhibits high potential.
For information on projects that have taken place in BC, go here.

UBC Farm hedgerow

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Schedule

Table 1: Workshop schedule

Time Topic Speaker
9:00 – 10:00 am Registration
10:00 - 10:20 am Opening remarks Amy Frye, Larry Grant
10:20 – 11:00 am Agroforestry: BC perspective David Trotter
11:00 – 11:15 am Break and refreshments
11:15 – 11:45 am Business planning for your Kelleen Wiseman
agroforestry venture
11:45 – 12:30 pm Facilitated discussion
12:30 – 1:30 pm Lunch UBC Point Grill catering
1:30 – 2:00 pm Hazelnuts in BC; the industry Peter Andres
and EFB
Carbon and agroforestry; an Robin Clark and Taylor White
integrated strategy
2:00 – 2:30 pm Diversifying your space with Thom O’Dell
new disease resistant hazelnut
varieties
Functional elements of David Bradbeer
hedgerows
2:30 – 3:20 pm Mediterranean truffle orchards Shannon Berch
in BC
3:20 – 3:30 pm Break and refreshments
3:30 – 4:00 pm Farm and forest mushroom Scott Henderson
cultivation
4:00 – 4:15 pm Closing remarks Kate Menzies
4:00 --5:00pm UBC Farm agroforestry
demonstration tour
To view presentation slides and videos, click here.

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Workshop summary:
After opening remarks and acknowledgement of traditional Musqueam territory, Dave
Trotter and Kelleen Wiseman gave informative presentations which would help frame the
theme for the day.

During the opening presentations and the facilitated discussion that followed, illustrator
Sam Bradd was busy creating a graphic depiction of emerging ideas and discussion, on a
6’x4’ poster at the front of the room. Below is the finished product.

To view a larger version of the graphic, click here.

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