Food Forests

Our world needs sustainable solutions in agriculture and this is exactly where the Food Forests come in. Whether you are a career changer who wants to make a contribution to change with your resources (time, money or land), a student looking for innovative concepts or a farmer who wants to transform part of your land for the future – we hope to provide you with valuable information and inspiration on this page.


Plant biodiversity, harvest the future.
Together for a regenerative world.

What are Food Forests?

Food forests are more than just agricultural land. By food forests, we mean all forms of cultivation that integrate perennial woody plants, i.e. trees and shrubs (agroforestry) AND combine many different plants on the same area (diversity) AND have several layers. 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, biodiverse agroforestry, complex agroforestry, syntropic agriculture, etc. As long as the three factors mentioned above are fulfilled, all these forms fall under the generic term ‘food forest’.

Ecosystem services

The air we breathe – the soil on which our food grows – the coolness of a forest on a hot summer’s day – we normally take all of this for granted. In fact, however, these are all examples of what are known as ecosystem services. Functioning ecosystems are the basis of life for us all: every day they produce oxygen, store water, build fertile soil and much more. As these cycles are not recognised in the current economic system, they are quickly forgotten – and yet we are all dependent on them.
Food forests not only produce food and other products, but also provide a wide range of ecosystem services.

Learn more about ecosystem services of food forests

Philosophy of biodiverse agroforestry

Regenerative agriculture requires a deep understanding of natural processes. Which methods and principles are crucial for the successful design of a food forest? We are happy to share our knowledge:

– Agroforstry systeme: What forms are there?
– Methods/fundamentals: syntropic agroforestry, dynamic agroforestry, permaculture
– Site analysis: how do wind, water, soil, temperature, flora and fauna influence the design?
– Planning: Planning and implemantation of a successful agroforestry system

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.

Definitions of Food Forests

Food forests are more than just agroforestry. Food forests are defined differently (unfortunately not yet clearly!). Read more about the different definitions of biodiverse agroforestry systems.

Learn more about food forests and agroforestry

Economy and social

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 goals
Operating models: how can a food forest be operated and be economically viable?
Create a businessplan: strategies for sustainable implementation

Founding a food forest: How does it work?

Cooperations and networks

Zertifizierungs-Workshop in Senegal

We are not working alone on this important topic. Together we can make progress! We cooperate with the German Agroforestry Association (DeFAF), the German Farmers’ Association (AbL), Voedseluithetbos (NL), universities and other partners.

Co-operation partners:
DeFAF: Deutscher Fachverband für Agroforstwirtschaft

AbL: Arbeitsgemeinschaft bäuerliche Landwirtschaft e.V.

Der niederländische Verein: VoedseluithetBos / FoodfromtheForest

Interesting sources for planning a food forest:

Join us!