What are food forests?
How are food forests defined? Food forests are more than just agricultural land. By food forests, we mean all forms of cultivation that
1) integrate perennial woody plants, i.e. trees and shrubs (agroforestry),
2) combine many different plants on the same area (polycultures) and
3) have several layers or storeys.
These three factors can achieve amazing effects can be achieved in terms of soil structure, resilience and yield. Depending on the focus and background, many terms are currently used: forest garden, diverse agroforestry, syntropic agriculture, etc. As long as the three factors mentioned above are fulfilled, all these forms fall under the generic term ‘food forest’.
What is agroforestry?
The term agroforestry is used when woody plants such as trees and shrubs are deliberately mixed with grassland, arable land or open field vegetable crops on the same agricultural area. These perennials are planted by farmers for various purposes. For example, for the production of fruit, nuts or wood. Or to improve animal welfare with shade or fodder trees for cattle in the paddock or on the pasture. And for a diverse agricultural system with sufficient natural disease and pest fighters. Farmers plant these trees and shrubs for various purposes. Therefor, there are many different agroforestry systems. With narrow or wide strips of trees and shrubs, loose trees in the meadow or along the edge of the field. The possible combinations are indeed endless!
For us, food forests are a form of agroforestry, but one that involves a much more radical break with industrial agriculture.
Definitions of Food Forest
In his book “Creating a Forest Garden”, Martin Crawford, one of the pioneers of biodiverse agroforestry, writes: ‘A forest garden is modeled on the structure of a young natural forest, using plants – often edible – of direct and indirect benefit to humans. The forest garden can contain large and small trees, shrubs, herbaceous perennials, herbs, annuals, root vegetables and climbers’. They are near-natural, multi-layered systems that produce healthy food in the long term and at the same time provide various ecosystem services.
The following definition was agreed in the Netherlands: “A food forest is a man-made productive ecosystem modeled on a natural forest with a wide variety of perennial and/or woody species, parts of which (fruits, seeds, leaves, stems, etc.) serve as food for humans. With the presence of: 1) a canopy of taller trees; 2) at least 3 tiers or layers of vegetation with lower trees, shrubs, herbs, ground cover, understory plants and climbers; and 3) a rich forest soil life.
A food forest has a robust size, i.e. an area of at least 0.5 hectares in an ecologically rich environment; in a highly impoverished environment, a minimum area of up to 20 hectares is required.”
What’s in a name?
Food forests are therefore defined differently. In Germany, there is still no standardized definition. We are therefore working with partners within DeFAF (German Association for Agroforestry) to define food forests and ensure that they can be recognized and promoted as agriculture. This step has already been taken in the Netherlands.
It is important for us to emphasize that the minimum size of 0.5 hectares referenced in the Dutch definition is, in our view, primarily of political significance: it should help to ensure that agroforestry is also taken seriously and promoted in Germany and other parts of the world. Anyone who would like to apply these agroecological principles on a smaller area and share knowledge about them is very welcome to join our network!
Not only are there different definitions, but also several names for food forests in circulation, e.g. biodiverse agroforestry systems, complex agroforestry systems, forest gardens, food forests and more. We have decided on two usages: the name Food Forests for international use and species-rich agroforestry for German-speaking use. However, if you read further, you will come across other names, such as syntropic agroforestry or dynamic agroforestry. We explain them here:
No artificial fertilizers or pesticides, no ploughing
No artificial fertilizers or pesticides are used in a food forest, the soil is not ploughed and is left alone as much as possible. Another important principle is that, as in other forms of regenerative agriculture and permaculture, no or as few external inputs as possible are introduced into the system.
Many people therefore ask themselves where the fertilizer comes from. The answer is simple: from the system itself! We explain how on the following pages, where we explain the different systems.
And what about water? In nature, in a functioning ecosystem, no outside water is needed, especially not in northern climates. Food Forest, the form of agriculture that relies on trees, rich soil life, ponds, groundwater and rain, theoretically requires no additional water supply. However, many soils (lots of expensive farmland!) are now degraded and there are too few trees to help bring water to the surface.
Advantages of Food Forests
There are many advantages to working and farming with species-rich agroforestry systems. In his book, Martin Crawford describes the following advantages of a forest garden:
– working with nature instead of against it;
– low maintenance with high efficiency;
– aa wide range of products as yield;
– Resilience to weather extremes and climate change;
– Biologically sustainable;
– Useful for the environment;
– Aesthetically beautiful;
– Commercial opportunities.
We are particularly enthusiastic about the ecosystem services of a food forest:
Starting a food forest
A food forest is not only ecologically valuable, but can also be economically viable and strengthen social communities. Approaches to implementation and financing can be found here.
Get started: Define mission and goal
Operating models: How can a food forest be economically viable?
Create a business plan: Strategies for Sustainable Implementation
Design: What methods and principles are critical to the successful design of a food forest?
Our work touches on 8 of the UN’s 17 SDGs.
1: No poverty. 2: Zero hunger. 3: Health and well being 4: Quality education. 11: Sustainable cities and communities. 12: Sustainable Consumption and Production. 13: Climate action. 15: Life on land.