The potential of agroforestry to address food security in developing countries is the subject of an article in the Guardian.

The article outlines how the World Agroforestry Centre has “built up a body of research on issues such as the use of particular tree varieties and how they can improve soil quality, complement specific field crops, and generate new income streams for smallholders”.

A 12 year study by the Centre shows how fertilizer trees, when planted alongside maize have improved yields in sub-Saharan Africa and reduced the need for synthetic fertilizers. The indigenous Faidherbia albida is also helping to replenish soil nutrients due to its unique property of shedding nutrient-rich leaves during the early rainy season when crops are being planted.

Fodder trees which are often planted along boundaries and can be fully productive within 2 years “are known to deliver relatively quick pay offs for use as fodder for livestock," says Frank Place from the World Agroforestry Centre.

The article discusses the role of Payment for Environmental Services (PES) schemes in agroforestry and the importance of access to markets so that smallholders can increase their returns from greater productivity. "There are many indigenous fruits such as baobab with high potential demand but very poorly organized value chains," says Place.

One success story is the native African Allanblackia tree which contains seeds that are rich in oil useful for food manufacturing. Through a private/public partnership, smallholder farmers have been able to grow superior varieties and a supply chain has been established.

The article looks at the policy constraints to agroforestry which have been the subject of a recent guide by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) (guide to advancing agroforestry on the policy agenda). If these and other obstacles, such as land tenure and some forest codes, can be overcome, then the multiple benefits of agroforestry could be realized by many more in the developing world.

Read the full story: How agroforestry schemes can improve food security in developing countries