Schaffer, Christina
- School for Forest Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Abstract
Monocultural land-use systems, narrowly focused on production, need transformation toward practices that recognise and integrate multiple benefits. Agroforestry systems (AFS) – the deliberate integration of trees, crops, and/or livestock – offer such a model by linking agriculture and forestry while delivering environmental, economic, and social advantages.
This thesis aims to enhance understanding of AFS by: (i) analysing their benefits across agricultural, forested, and urban contexts using an ecosystem services framework; (ii) exploring farmers’ motivations, perceptions, and challenges in practising agroforestry; and (iii) examining transitions from conventional land use to multifunctional AFS through the lens of niche innovation with real world examples on transitions.
Empirical material from 19 case studies across Sweden was gathered through participatory approaches, focus groups, semi-structured interviews, and conceptual analysis. Four main AFS types were identified: silvopasture, silvoarable systems, forest farming, and forest gardens. Multifunctionality was primarily driven by farmers’ intentions to combine production with landscape stewardship, linking food and material provision to ecological and cultural benefits.
The study revealed that agroforestry in Sweden largely develops within experimental and adaptive niches – spaces where innovative practices, knowledge exchange, and farmer collaboration foster new forms of land stewardship. Niche innovations included novel silvopastoral and alley-cropping designs, diversified forest-farming models, the establishment of 12 novel temperate forest gardens, in addition one forest garden which integrates high-quality timber production with food.
The thesis advances knowledge of agroforestry as a multifunctional and evolving land-use practice, demonstrating how grassroots niche innovations contribute to resilience, diversification, and sustainable rural and urban transitions.
Keywords
agroforestry systems; silvopasture; silvoarable; forest farming; forest garden; temperate agroforestry; participatory approach; farmer´s perspectives; multifunctional land-use; niche-innovation; agroforestrysystem; silvopastorala system; silvoarabla system; skogsodling; skogsträdgård; agroforestry i tempererade områden; deltagardriven forskning; lantbrukarperspektiv; mångfunktionell markanvändning; nischinnovation
Published in
Acta Universitatis Agriculturae Sueciae
2025, number: 2025:83
Publisher: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
SLU Authors
UKÄ Subject classification
Forest Science
Publication identifier
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.54612/a.13rfk2v15j
- ISBN: 978-91-8124-067-2
- eISBN: 978-91-8124-113-6
Permanent link to this page (URI)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/142484