Webinar Summary: Winter wheat in agroforestry systems

The webinar on agroforestry and winter wheat was organised within the Farm Force cooperation project funded by the Swedish Institute. The project connects Swedish and Ukrainian civil society organisations, research institutions, advisors and practitioners to strengthen knowledge exchange on sustainable agricultural systems. This session focused specifically on how agroforestry can be integrated into grain production systems, with relevance for both Sweden and Ukraine.

The webinar brought together research-based evidence, practical farm experience and expertise in agricultural advisory services to demonstrate that agroforestry is not an alternative to cereal production, but a strategy to strengthen it. Sweden’s agricultural land is limited relative to its forest area, and cereals play a central role in national food production. Against this backdrop, agroforestry was presented as a way to increase multifunctionality and resilience within existing arable systems.

Agroforestry was defined as the deliberate and managed integration of trees and shrubs into crop systems to generate ecological and economic benefits. The emphasis was on intentional design: selecting appropriate tree species, spacing and management regimes that are compatible with mechanised grain production. Systems such as alley cropping, windbreaks and buffer strips were discussed as scalable models for temperate European conditions.

The evidence presented highlighted several strategic benefits relevant for policy and rural development:

• Climate mitigation and adaptation: Trees increase carbon sequestration and improve microclimate regulation, enhancing resilience to drought and extreme weather.
• Soil health and nutrient cycling: Deep-rooted species improve soil structure, increase organic matter and enhance nutrient retention.
• Biodiversity: Tree integration strengthens habitat diversity in otherwise simplified agricultural landscapes.
• Economic diversification: Fruit, timber or biomass production creates additional income streams and reduces farm-level risk.
  Importantly, well-designed systems can maintain competitive crop yields. Research and advisory experience show that management practices — including canopy and root management — can minimise competition between trees and crops. While agroforestry requires higher initial investment, long-term analyses indicate that systems can reach economic break-even once tree production is established, while simultaneously delivering environmental benefits.

A Swedish farm case illustrated practical implementation at commercial scale. An organic 270-hectare farm has integrated 1,400 apple trees into a 14-hectare alley cropping system while continuing mechanised grain production between tree rows. The design allows efficient machinery use and maintains cereal output. The farm also combines production with on-farm processing and direct marketing, demonstrating how agroforestry can strengthen local value chains and rural economic resilience.

For decision makers in agricultural policy and farmer organisations the key message is clear: agroforestry is a technically viable and research-supported approach that can be integrated into mainstream grain production systems. With enabling policy frameworks and proper advisory support, agroforestry can contribute simultaneously to climate targets, biodiversity commitments, soil health improvement and stronger regional food value chains in both Sweden and Ukraine.