Today I am writing about something that I have already mentioned in one of my previous reports: Agroforestry.

According to the Brazilian Agroforestry is defined as " systems of land use in which woody perennials are managed in association with shrubs, herbaceous plants, trees, fooder, and agricultural crops in one management unit, according to spatial and temporal arrangement, with high diversity of species and interactions between all components ". (Brasil, 2009 Brasil, 2011)

Agroforestry is an interesting system because the sustainable use of natural resources is coupled with a lower dependence on external inputs resulting in greater food security and economy, for both the farmers and consumers. Agroforestry involves the capture and understand of how life processes biogeochemical cycles and how ecological relationships are happening. If you identify and empower them you can increased fertility, yield ,and biodiversity in any land space.

According to Rede de Agricultura Sustentavel, the most efficient recycling of nutrients is a spectacular feature of this system production. Biomass deposited in the soil by fallen leafs, pruning branches, and crop residues improves the supply of nutrients to crops and promotes beneficial action for the soil microorganisms. Also, perennial forages allow breeding while protecting the soil of torrential rain, direct sunlight, and dry winds, typical of the regions

Tropical like Brazil.

As you may have noticed, when we talk about agroforestry, we do not say a word about the conditions for germination and growth of the species of interest. The important thing is the enhancement of the natural processes, aiming to optimize the production of both species of interest and biodiversity as a whole. It is precisely with this difference in the orientation of the production process that Agroforestry contributes to the sustainability of food production, and it is also why I love it. I wish more farmers could start using this system of production.