Agroforestry for sustainable dairy farming

Animal welfare, biodiversity, microclimate and crop diversification are at the heart of agroforestry as applied to dairy farming. For decades, deforestation has expanded agricultural land, but today, farmers are planting trees or hedges to provide shade for the animals, improve the soil, encourage grass growth, and increase biodiversity. Models such as orchard-meadows or intra-plot tree rows allow for dual production (fruit and grass) and greater resilience to droughts. Local grants and CAP subsidies can cover the costs of reforestation. Technical tools, such as tree protection systems using posts and electric wires, facilitate mowing without dismantling the structures. The Resilience for Milk (R4D) project, funded by Horizon 2020, emphasises a preliminary project development phase that includes technical, economic and social responses to sustainability challenges.