Agroforestry in Nederland: Sustainable Farming with Trees

Agroforestry in the Netherlands is gaining traction as a solution to soil erosion, biodiversity loss, and monotonous landscapes. The government promotes tree and shrub integration in agriculture through subsidies and eco-premiums, aiming for 25,000 hectares of farmland converted to agroforestry by 2030—7,000 hectares with high tree density and 1,000 hectares as food forests. The Louis Bolk Institute researches sustainable farming and advises the government. Four agroforestry models exist: silvopastoral systems, hedgerow integration, intercropping, and food forests. At Janmiekshoeve, pioneer John Heesakkers transformed 18 hectares using a north-south row of trees and shrubs, securing subsidies and joining SKAL for organic certification. Successful implementation requires scalable models, proper management, and suitable species like Tamias chestnuts for sandy soils. Positive outcomes and connections between existing woodlands and high nature value areas highlight benefits. Agroforestry varies by farmer ambition and local conditions. An example is the planting of an Abikos (Prunus armeniaca 'Bergeval') at Janmiekshoeve. Evert Prins emphasizes trees as key to resilient farming systems. Information on subsidies and literature is available via Rijkswaterstaat and the Louis Bolk Institute.