Webinar Summary: "Coffee talk" on windbreaks in agroforestry systems

On 7 October, the FarmForce project brought together researchers and farmers from Sweden and Ukraine for an online Coffee Talk on tree-based windbreaks in agroforestry systems. The presentations combined research and practical experience to explore how trees and shrubs can protect farmland, improve growing conditions and strengthen agricultural resilience. The discussion also addressed soil health, energy supply and the restoration of agricultural landscapes damaged by war.

Vasyl Yukhnovskyi, Professor at the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences, presented Ukraine’s extensive experience with shelterbelts and their importance for agricultural production. The Ukrainian findings show clear benefits for cereal production through reduced wind erosion, retained soil moisture and a more favourable microclimate. Together with the Swedish experiences, the presentations highlighted benefits for autumn-sown crops such as winter wheat and winter oilseed rape, where protection against drying winds and wind-blown soil can improve establishment and overwintering.

A central topic was the design and management of windbreaks. Yukhnovskyi described how dense rows of trees can create turbulence and intensify the effects of wind in some areas, while appropriate porosity can provide more evenly distributed protection across the field. Tree height, spacing between windbreaks and regular maintenance are therefore important factors in combining effective wind protection with practical crop production.

Associate Professor Oleksandr Sovakov at the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences presented examples of windbreak restoration in war-damaged areas of Ukraine. In the Mykolaiv region, mine clearance had been a prerequisite for starting the work. Restoration involved soil assessments, the selection of locally adapted planting material and monitoring tree establishment. The examples also showed how natural oak regeneration can be supported where mature trees have survived.

Local participation was highlighted as an important part of the long-term work. Sovakov described a landscape resoration project in which farmers and local communities participate throughout the process, from planning to planting. Collaboration between researchers, organisations and residents thus contributes both to establishing new windbreaks and to building commitment to their continued care.

Practical experiences from Mriya Farm in the Kyiv region illustrated the links between soil health, farming practices and resource efficiency. Mykhailo Voitovyk described the farm’s use of direct drilling without tillage, known as no-till, alongside cover crops and crop diversification. He emphasised soil structure and biological activity as the foundation of production. The transition to wood-based fuel for grain drying was also presented as a way to reduce dependence on diesel amid major energy challenges.

Rune and Irene Karlsson shared experiences from a Swedish agricultural plain, where hedgerows of trees and shrubs have gradually been combined with ponds and flowering field margins. The work began with an interest in wildlife habitats but has revealed further benefits for the farm over time. They described protection against wind erosion, improved growing conditions and more habitats for birds and insects. These improvements were linked to the combined effects of several measures and changes in farming practices.

Overall, the exchange illustrated how windbreaks can be integrated into farming according to local conditions. The Swedish and Ukrainian examples highlighted their relevance to both climate adaptation and food security preparedness in both countries. By protecting topsoil and improving growing conditions, well-designed windbreaks can help sustain production during drought, strong winds and other pressures. In Ukraine, restoring windbreaks can also form part of the recovery of agricultural landscapes damaged by war.