Wissenstransfer und Umsetzung von Agroforst- Systemen in Österreich

Geographical location	Austria
Main geographical location (NUTS3)	Weinviertel
Other geographical locations (NUTS3)	Wiener Umland/Nordteil Wiener Umland/Südteil
Keywords	Agricultural production system Forestry
Main funding source	Rural development 2014-2020 for Operational Groups (in the sense of Art 56 of Reg.1305/2013)
Project type	Operational group
Starting date	2019
End date	2022
Project status	Ongoing
Website	FiBL Austria

Title (in English):

Knowledge transfer and implementation of agroforesty systems in Austria

Objective of the project (native language):

Die fortschreitenden klimatischen Veränderungen in ackerbaulich dominierten Regionen Ostösterreichs veranlassen landwirtschaftliche Betriebe dazu neue Anbausysteme zu erproben, darunter auch agroforstliche Nutzungssysteme. In Österreich gibt es bis dato nur vereinzelte Umsetzungsbeispiele und weder eine Anlaufstelle für interessierte landwirtschaftliche Betriebe noch ein Netzwerk für den Informations- und Erfahrungsaustausch zwischen Praxis und Wissenschaft. Das Projekt wird auf sechs Ackerbaubetrieben standort- und betriebsangepasste Agroforstsysteme etablieren und Erkenntnisse aus dieser Pionierarbeit für andere Betriebe und MultiplikatorInnen nutzbar machen.

Objective of the project (in English):

The progressing climatic change in the regions dominated by arable farming in East Austria cause agricultural holdings to test new growing methods, among them also agroforestry types of utilisation. In Austria there are, so far, only sporadic examples of implementation, and there exists neither a contact point for interested agricultural holdings, nor a network for the exchange of information and experience between practice and science. The project will establish on six arable farms site- and farm-adapted agroforestry systems and will make available insights from this pioneer work to other farms and multipliers.

Description of activities (native language):

1. Implementierung von Agroforstsystemen in 6 Pionierbetrieben mit Unterstützung erfahrener BeraterInnen aus Deutschland und der Schweiz
2. Begleituntersuchungen: Erhebung der Wirtschaftlichkeit auf mindestens 3 Betrieben, Modellierung der Klimawirkung, Erhebung der Bestandsentwicklung, Klärung der rechtlichen Situation als Diskussionsgrundlage für zukünftige Fördermöglichkeiten
3. Verbreitung der Ergebnisse: Erstellung einer Informationsbroschüre für BetriebsleiterInnen, Beratungsunterlagen für Interessensvertretungen, Handlungsempfehlungen für die Zukunft von Agroforst in Österreich, Erstellung einer Agroforst-Homepage, Organisation einer Tagung

Description of activities (in English):

1. Implementation of agroforestry systems on 6 pioneer farms with the support of experienced consultants from Germany and Switzerland.
2. Accompanying studies: Survey of the economic efficiency on at least 3 farms. Modelling of the climate effect, survey of the stock development, clarification of the legal situation as a basis for a discussion on future funding options
3. Spreading of the results: Preparation of an information brochure for farm managers, consulting documents for representations of interest, recommendations for actions for the future of agroforestry in Austria, establishment of an agroforestry homepage, organisation of a meeting.

Total budget:

260888

Project coordinator

Contact person:

Mag. Theresia Markut und Dr. Peter Meindl

Address:

Doblhoffgasse 7/10, 1010 Wien, Austria

E-mail:

theresia.markut@fibl.org

Phone:

'+43 (0)1 9076313-22

Partner category:

Researcher

Further details

Links to other website(s):

European Agroforestry Federation

EIP Agroforestry Focus group

AGFORWARD

Description of the context of the project:

In the course of climate change the agricultural landscape has been exposed to massive ecological changes, e.g. droughts, severe rainfall, soil erosion and yield losses. Agricultural enterprises find themselves increasingly forced to get engaged with modern growing systems which are adapted to the changed environmental conditions. Up-to-date and site-adapted agroforestry systems constitute innovative approaches to solutions for meeting the challenges of the agriculture of the future, because they provide economic and ecological advantages for climate, soil, water balance, biodiversity and diversification. In spite of these advantages they are hardly implemented in Austria. Because, whereas for other EU countries scientific insights and implementation experiences are available, there is no contact point and no specific network for persons interested in agroforestry in Austria, in order to obtain know-how in a targeted way. – This deficit is even worse in view of the fact that the establishment of agroforestry systems constitutes a type of management with a long-term perspective and thus has to be well-considered. This project aims at closing knowledge gaps by means of implementing agroforestry systems at model farms and by developing a national network of practitioners and scientists, and by working out guidance documents.