Ireland’s The Journal carries an article discussing the importance of the agri-food sector in Ireland and highlights the Food Security Futures conference underway in Dublin and the upcoming Hunge, Nutrition and Climate Justice conference.

The author, Dr Oliver Moore, believes agroforestry is “perhaps the most promising” solution to meeting the “multi-faceted conundrums we face”. He discusses how the integration of trees into agricultural systems can improve both the overall ecology and yields. Agroforestry has the ability to diversify livelihoods and make food production more resilient, while removing pressure on forests.

A presentation at the Food Security Futures conference by Frank Place, Impact Assessment Advisor with the World Agroforestry Centre and Alexandre Meybeck from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has outlined many examples of how agroforestry systems have increased productivity, improved soils, reduced the need for fertilizers and stabilized incomes.

Scientists have also found a link between tree cover and diversity in children’s diets. Women benefit greatly from agroforestry as when trees are grown on the farm, they do not have to travel as far to collect firewood or food and medicinal plants from forests. Agroforestry also has great potential in climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Irish Aid is a major supporters of the World Agroforestry Centre’s work, specifially the Agroforestry Food Security Programme in Malawi which has already benefitted 1.3 million people.

Read the full story: Important future of food events happening in Ireland