Agroforestry carbon-farming for climate adaptation

Policy Briefing #27-v3 outlines how agroforestry projects can fulfill the sustainability requirements of EU frameworks like the Sustainable Taxonomy and the Carbon Farming Delegated Act. Despite extensive scientific evidence supporting its climate benefits, agroforestry remains absent from the National Adaptation Strategies and Plans of nine EU Member States (BG, DK, ES, FI, LV, LI, MT, RO, SE).  The briefing details nine key climate adaptation advantages of integrating trees with agriculture.  Environmentally,  agroforestry enhances carbon sequestration, mitigates soil erosion, regulates water flow during floods or droughts, and significantly boosts biodiversity. Agronomically, it reduces pest and disease pressures, stabilizes crop yields, and improves animal welfare by providing essential shade and shelter. Economically and structurally, agroforestry increases farm resilience against extreme weather events, such as storms and wildfires, and reduces agricultural pollution by capturing greenhouse gases and ammonia emissions.  To encourage broader policy adoption, the briefing highlights best practices from Czechia, France, and Italy, which explicitly include agroforestry as a key nature-based solution in their national climate strategies. Finally, the authors urge all Member States to integrate agroforestry into their upcoming 2026 and 2027 climate adaptation policy revisions to ensure long-term agricultural resilience.