Enhancing Rural Economies Through Agroforestry: Assessing Emerging Opportunities

Excerpts from the Executive Summary: Accelerating the adoption of agroforestry will require a better understanding of the economic opportunities and financial benefits to society, says a recent assessment of U.S. agroforestry. Providing this understanding is critical for agroforestry to reach its full potential, whereby it enhances rural economies and provides ecological services that people need, such as clean drinking water. To assess emerging opportunities, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) convened more than 60 people in March 2018 to learn, network, and, above all, generate ideas for raising the economic profile and viability of agroforestry in the United States. The effort was led by USDA’s National Agroforestry Center, which serves as a hub to advance the health, diversity, and productivity of working lands, waters, and communities through agroforestry. The National Agroforestry Center collaborated with other USDA agencies (the Agricultural Marketing Service, Agricultural Research Service, Economic Research Service, Farm Service Agency, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and Rural Development) and additional partners to convene the workshop. This report provides a narrative summary of the workshop and includes next steps developed by participants.