Industry Overview

Agroforestry is defined as a land use system that involves the deliberate retention, introduction or mixing of trees or other plants into crop and animal production systems in order to increase profitability, sustainability, protection of the environment and social acceptance.

Agroforestry is:

• Intentional - designed and managed for a planned result
• Intensive - all components are intensively managed
• Integrated - a blend of agriculture, forestry and environmental science
• Interactive - designed to minimize negative and maximize positive interactions between trees, other crops and livestock.

Agroforestry practices are divided into groups of similar agroforestry activities or crop combinations that can be integrated into farms and woodlands.

• Forest Farming
• Alley Cropping
• Silvopasture and
• Buffers (Buffers include Integrated Riparian Management; Windbreaks, Shelterbelts and Boundary Plantings; Community Greenways and Urban Buffers).

The Agroforestry Industry Development Initiative is one of the Agri-Food Futures Funds (AFFF). The AFFF is a trust fund supported by federal and provincial governments with an initial capitalization of $13.5 million. More information on the AIDI can be found on the Federation of BC Woodlot Association website or by contacting:

George Powell, AIDI Development & Implementation Facilitator
Phone: (250) 747-1066
Cell: (250) 983-5114
E-mail: agroforestry@uniserve.com

Related Areas: 

• Agri-food Statistical Information: BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands
• Fast Stats 2006 (560Kb): BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands
• InfoBasket: Your Link to Agri-Food Information: BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands