Agroforestry in Europe: From Tradition to Transformation

Agroforestry is gaining renewed momentum in Europe and globally as a nature-based solution to pressing environmental and socio-economic challenges. Traditional agroforestry systems are increasingly recognised for their multifunctionality, while novel systems are developed to enhance ecosystem service delivery from agricultural landscapes. In this context, agroforestry is an effective tool for transforming current food systems into diversified, equitable, value-added, resilient business models, adapted to local needs. This resurgence is driven by farmers, researchers, and policymakers seeking integrated solutions to biodiversity loss, declining soil health, and the need for sustainable food systems. Currently, scaling agroforestry in Europe remains constrained by institutional, economic, and knowledge barriers, highlighting the need for interdisciplinary research and practical innovation.

This Research Topic aims to advance agroforestry as a transformative approach for sustainable land use in Europe and beyond. It seeks to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge, practical implementation, and policy development by bringing together contributions from the 8th European Agroforestry Congress and the wider research community. We aim to capture recent advances in understanding ecosystem service provision, biodiversity enhancement, and socio-ecological resilience, while also addressing barriers to adoption and scaling. By integrating empirical studies, methodological innovations, and synthesis work, this collection highlights pathways for embedding agroforestry in resilient agricultural landscapes and food systems.

In this Research Topic, we welcome studies on the following subtopics, but not limited to:
• Agroecological cropping systems
• Agroforestry for socio-ecological transformation
• Farmer-friendly agroforestry
• Ecosystem services and multifunctionality of agroforestry systems
• Agroforestry and biodiversity
• Agroforestry and climate change mitigation and adaptation
• Socio-economic dimensions, farmer decision-making, and adoption barriers
• Policy frameworks and governance for agroforestry in Europe and beyond
• Agroforestry Living Labs and participatory approaches
• Innovations in system design, management, and monitoring
• Integration of traditional knowledge and modern practices
• Cultural heritage of European agroforestry.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Ecosystem services, biodiversity, socio-ecological systems, farmland trees, Agroecological cropping systems

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.