<\/p>\n
Farmers could turn more of the UK’s farmland into productive agroforestry systems if they had access to trusted advice and real farm examples, according to new research from the University of Reading.<\/span><\/p>\n Dr Amelia Hood, from the Department of Sustainable Land Management at the University of Reading, worked with 220 stakeholders including farmers,\u00a0policymakers\u00a0and NGOs to\u00a0identify\u00a0why agroforestry is still rare in the UK, despite strong interest from farmers and government funding for tree planting.<\/span><\/p>\n The\u00a0<\/span>research<\/span><\/a> found that a key barrier to adopting agroforestry is that farmers don\u2019t have the knowledge they need to implement and manage it. Many farmers want to see working examples of agroforestry in their area, before committing to new methods with long-term implications for farm management.<\/span><\/p>\n Dr Hood said: “We’re seeing strong interest in agroforestry, but interest isn’t the same as implementation. Farmers need opportunities to learn from real farm\u00a0examples and support to develop business cases.<\/span><\/p>\n “Agroforestry is one of the few farming approaches that can deliver meaningful environmental benefits while maintaining, or even increasing, food production. These recommendations could help unlock its potential to support food security, benefits for nature, and progress towards lower emissions.”<\/span><\/p>\n A network of agroforestry\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>demonstration farms<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Agroforestry integrates trees into crop or livestock farming.\u00a0Trees in fields support climate resilience, biodiversity and soil health while\u00a0maintaining\u00a0food output. Yet only around 3% of UK agricultural land currently uses agroforestry.<\/span><\/p>\n In response to farmers’ calls for real-world evidence, Dr Hood\u00a0established\u00a0the\u00a0<\/span>Trees-in-<\/span>f<\/span>ields Network<\/span>, a long-term national research programme bringing together demonstration farms across the UK to test different tree species and crops under real farming conditions.<\/span>\u00a0This will also help to address key research gaps around how to manage and implement ag<\/span>r<\/span>oforestry\u00a0<\/span>effectively,\u00a0<\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>Dr\u00a0Hood\u2019s <\/span>research<\/span><\/a>\u00a0has identified <\/span>that there are\u00a0<\/span>many\u00a0<\/span>of\u00a0<\/span>these<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n Stakeholders also highlighted that trust in existing agricultural advice is low, and that the UK has lower rates of formal agricultural training than other European countries. The project recommends developing an agroforestry accreditation scheme and government-funded education programmes to address this.<\/span><\/p>\n Timber and biomass benefits<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n In a separate University of Reading\u00a0<\/span>study<\/span><\/a>, also published this month, researchers modelled what would happen if agroforestry were scaled up across England and Wales. The research found that agroforestry could\u00a0substantially boost\u00a0domestic production of fruit, timber and biomass, all products that the UK currently imports in\u00a0large quantities.<\/span><\/p>\n However, this would come with trade-offs, as food energy production could fall by 3\u201345% depending on tree type and density, with vegetables and cereals most affected. Livestock grazing systems would be least impacted.<\/span><\/p>\n Dr Tom Staton, lead author of the modelling study, said: “Most agroforestry systems are more productive overall than equivalent monocultures, especially in pasture-based systems. But widespread adoption would need to be accompanied by broader food system changes, such as reducing waste and shifts in dietary patterns.”<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cTogether, these\u00a0new studies\u00a0show that agroforestry could play a far bigger role in the UK\u2019s farming future\u00a0\u2013\u00a0strengthening\u00a0<\/span>fruit <\/span>and timber<\/span>\u00a0production, improving biodiversity and soil\u00a0health\u00a0and increasing resilience to climate change. By investing in trusted advice, practical education and long-term research, the UK can help farmers confidently adopt tree-based systems that deliver benefits for people,\u00a0nature\u00a0and the national food supply.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Notes to editors:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Dr Hood\u00a0and Dr Staton are\u00a0available for interview. Contact the University of Reading\u2019s\u00a0Press Office on 0118 378 5757 or\u00a0<\/span>pressoffice@reading.ac.uk<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Hood, A.S.C., Scholes, R.E., Degani, E.\u00a0<\/span>et al.<\/span>\u00a0(2026)<\/span>Co-designing a research agenda for UK agroforestry using a multi-actor approach<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Agronomy for Sustainable Development<\/span>,<\/span>46<\/span>, 20.\u00a0<\/span>https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s13593-026-01089-8<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Hood, A. S. C.,\u00a0Scherfranz, V., Scholes, R. E., Degani, E., Staton, T., Varah, A., Schaller, L., & Mauchline, A. L. (2025)\u00a0<\/span>Identifying knowledge barriers to agroforestry adoption and co-designing solutions to them<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>People and Nature<\/span>, 00, 1\u201316.\u00a0<\/span>https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/pan3.70219<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Staton,\u00a0T.,\u00a0Burgess,\u00a0P. J.,\u00a0Graves,\u00a0A. R.,\u00a0Smith,\u00a0L. G.\u00a0(2026)\u00a0<\/span>Modelling the production impacts of scaling up agroforestry systems in England and Wales<\/span>.<\/span>Agricultural Systems<\/span>,233.\u00a0<\/span>https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.agsy.2026.104651<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"