The term ‘agroforestry’ refers to the concept of combining woody plants with arable crops and/or livestock farming on a single plot of land. It has its roots in agriculture or, as Stephan Wolters puts it: ‘Agroforestry realises its great added value as a farming system on arable land.’
Agriculture, like horticulture, is one of the leading sectors in the Lower Rhine region and contributes to the region’s strategic importance for the economy of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Ensuring this sector is fit for future generations is a major task, as both Stephan Wolters and Prof. Dr.-Ing. Peter Kisters agreed. To achieve this, the link between knowledge generation and technology must be strengthened. This will enable research findings to be translated even more effectively into creative solutions for the pressing challenges of our time. “This is also the main objective of the TransRegINT project – Transformation of the Lower Rhine Region: Innovation, Sustainability, Participation – which is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research,” emphasised Prof. Dr.-Ing. Peter Kisters.
Under the TransRegINT umbrella, the ‘Agroforestry Real-World Laboratory’ transformation project aims to implement agroforestry systems tailored to the Lower Rhine region and to create a regional network of the various stakeholders. The ‘Agroforestry Real-World Laboratory’ team is providing scientific support for the implementation in order to collect data on the ecological, economic and social benefits of these systems.
Stephan Wolters, a member of the Committee for the Environment, Nature and Consumer Protection, Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Areas in North Rhine-Westphalia, supports the establishment of agroforestry systems at a political level. “Agroforestry is undoubtedly a promising approach for improving soil fertility, increasing water retention, promoting biodiversity, boosting carbon sequestration and strengthening the resilience of agricultural production to climate fluctuations,” he says, summarising the ecological and economic benefits of agroforestry systems.
At HSRW, the focus has now shifted from arable farming to ornamental plant production: Dr Ana Kreter, project coordinator for the Agroforestry Real-World Laboratory within the TransRegINT project, cited the collaboration with Agrobusiness Niederrhein e.V. as a practical example. The agroforestry team has recently begun supporting a member company of the network initiative in establishing a ‘potted plant forest’, i.e. an agroforestry system in horticulture.
“It is important to engage in dialogue with all individuals and institutions involved in agroforestry; in addition to farmers, this includes researchers and politicians, amongst others. I am therefore all the more delighted to have the opportunity to exchange views with Mr Wolters. With our diverse backgrounds, we can bring together the various stakeholders in the process of integrating agriculture and forestry,” emphasises Prof. Dr.-Ing. Peter Kisters. Stephan Wolters confirms: “Only together are we strong. Let us speak with one voice and bring agriculture, science and transformation together.”
Background
With the project ‘TransRegINT – Transformation of the Lower Rhine Region: Innovation, Sustainability, Participation’, Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences has set itself the goal of helping to shape sustainable change in the region on a science-based foundation. The project is funded by the ‘Innovative University’ programme of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. This funding initiative supports universities in finding creative solutions to the pressing challenges of our time based on research findings. ‘TransRegINT’ will receive funding of just under ten million euros until the end of 2027. This will enable the development of solutions to shape the region’s future in line with the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
Contact
Dr Ana Kreter
, Project Co-ordinator, Agroforestry Real-World Laboratory, TransRegINT
Project, Centre for Research, Innovation and Transfer
Tel.: +49 (0) 2821 806 73-9950
