Integrating agrovoltaics and agroforestry for resilient Mediterranean landscapes

Integrating agrovoltaic and agroforestry systems in Mediterranean regions enhances agricultural productivity, sequesters carbon, reduces water stress, and mitigates climate change. These multifunctional systems boost land use efficiency, support biodiversity, and can generate up to 560,000 jobs if deployed on 1% of olive grove land. Bifacial solar panels combined with crops and trees improve microclimates, cut CO₂ emissions by up to 3.4 million metric tons annually on large-scale deployment, and support ecosystem resilience. Projects like HyPerFarm and EU-funded initiatives under the Common Agricultural Policy validate their feasibility. Overcoming regulatory hurdles and advancing decision-support tools are key to scaling adoption across stakeholders.