Good Practice - Project

Agroforestry systems on permanent grasslands and arable land

CAP-funded agroforestry helps Czech farm cope better with climate change, produce healthy, nutritious food, and improve local water quality.
  • CAP Implementation
  • - Programming period: 2023-2027 Czechia
    - Programming period: 2023-2027 Czechia

    General information

    Beneficiary type
    • Farmer / land manager
    CAP specific objective
    • Climate change action
    • Environmental care
    • Preserving landscapes and biodiversity

    Summary

    The ‘Jagava Permafarma Veselice’ farm is an example of sustainable farming for organic production. Established in an area that was previously an intensively farmed monoculture, the owners implemented several actions aimed at improving the condition of the soil. Starting with a few tree species, planted tentatively but successfully when the farm was first established, the farmers decided to develop agroforestry systems on their permanent grassland as well as on arable land. In 2023, they were able to use CAP funds to set up the newly planted areas, also incorporating the existing tree species from their permanent grasslands, and undertaking a five-year commitment to maintaining them.

    Results

    • Established new agroforestry systems on three land blocks covering an area of 10.64 ha.
    Logo
    Promoter

    Jagava Permafarma Veselice

    Funding

    Total budget 83 422 (EUR)

    EAFRD: 15 198 (EUR)

    National/Regional: 28 224 (EUR)

    Private/own: 40 000 (EUR)

    Resources

    Documents

    English language

    Good practice report : Agroforestry systems on permanent grasslands and arable land

    (PDF – 4.02 MB)

    Context

    Czechia’s Jagava Permafarma Veselice farm was established in 2014 and has converted an intensive monoculture farm into an award-winning organic farming system. By implementing several measures, the condition of the soil has been improved to ensure that it can retain water. This helps prevent erosion, as soil coverage is maintained all year round and no ‘heat islands’ are created after harvest. The farm is a good practice example of sustainable organic farming, with an emphasis on self-sufficiency, through the careful use of resources and maximum support for biodiversity.

    The farm includes fruit orchards (with both traditional and old varieties of trees), hardwood orchards, areas of pasture, vegetable beds, and the field cultivation of grain and other crops. Most of the areas are planted with multi-purpose hedgerows that serve as windbreaks and habitat features for birds, insects, or other wildlife. Livestock such as Scottish Highland cattle and poultry are being incorporated into the overall design of the agri-ecosystem. Future development plans include expanding the farm’s food production facilities.

    In 2023, Jagava Permafarma Veselice won Czechia’s national Adapterra Award in the open landscape category. The Adapterra Awards highlight and celebrate best practices in adaptation to climate change. The competition has been running since 2019, and provides inspiration for adaptation measures, while encouraging discussion about how to prepare for climate change.

    Objectives

    The aims of this project were to establish agroforestry systems that are integrated into the farm’s organic production system. The new agroforestry systems would enable the farmed area and landscape to better cope with climate change and produce healthy nutritious food, while improving the water quality in the surrounding villages.

    Activities

    Project activities included:

    • Designing the project together with a landscape architect. This involved project design, preparation and the selection of suitable tree species.
    • Establishing, in 2023, agroforestry systems on parts of three land blocks, carefully integrated into the whole-farm dynamics. The agroforestry systems were established under two interventions of the Czech CAP Strategic Plan, namely ‘Establishment of an agroforestry system’ (Invest (73-74) — Investments) and ‘Maintenance of an established agroforestry system’ (ENVCLIM (70) — Environmental, climate-related and other management commitments).
    • Planting, among others, walnut and cherry trees because their wood can be used for furniture production and their fruits provide food.
    • Fencing the whole farm to make it easier to protect newly established agroforestry systems against damage caused by populations of foraging wild deer. Other sections of the agroforestry planting systems also needed fencing to protect young trees from the farm’s grazing cattle.

    Main results

    • Established new agroforestry systems on three land blocks with permanent grasslands and arable land, covering an area of 10.64 ha.
    • Visually, the character of the landscape has changed from a monotonous field to a structured landscape that is aesthetically attractive. Quality of life and tourism benefits are expected advantages of planting trees.

    Key lessons

    • Individual trees or entire sets of plantings must be intensively protected from wild animals in open landscapes. Plantings in many countries are often most at risk of damage from deer, as they tend to eat the branches and knock the trunks with their antlers. In these cases, it is usually necessary to plant a new tree, as this type of damage cannot be treated.
    • To avoid the above, invest in multi-layer tree protection that includes mesh that is 1.8-2.0 m high, and additional plastic protection for trunks. Mulch should also be laid around the planting.
    • Plan well for the future agricultural or forestry use of the trees as an integral part of the overall economy of the enterprise.
    Soil, trees, bushes, animals, water, atmosphere, etc. participate in processes in the landscape. If we remove any element from these processes, the whole system starts to fall apart. That's why trees and bushes belong on arable land and meadows. Tomáš Franěk

    Contact Information

    Email: tomas.franek@permafarma.cz