Agroforestry in the Czech Republic is gaining strength, there are many farms where agroforestry can be the cornerstone of agricultural development and at the same time can improve the farm’s resistance to climate change. “Currently, agroforestry is developing rapidly in the Czech Republic and scientists, farmers themselves and politicians are interested in it. The proof is also that measures to support agroforestry were launched this year as a part of our strategic plan of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy,” said Bohdan Lojka, chairman of the scientific commission of the conference.
„We have to recognize our agricultural landscapes as living, integral parts of our ecosystems – and that our food production systems should cooperate with nature, and not work against it. When we understand this, we also start to explore the multiple ways agroforestry can contribute to a greener agriculture and rural development. I feel that our strength is our network – different views, different backgrounds, different circumstances. We have to work on this together,“ stated Judit Csikvári, president of the European Agroforestry Federation (EURAF). The organization has more than 600 members in 23 European countries and aims to promote the adoption of agroforestry practices throughout Europe.
The conference will cover both research and practice. Opportunities and challenges in applying trees to agriculture will be solved. Experts from all over the world will discuss in thematic sessions, workshops will offer participants new experiences and impulses on how agroforestry can diversify production, improve soil health and biodiversity in Europe. “The main goal is to assert and show that the cultivation of woody plants on agricultural land can not only have many positive environmental benefits, but mainly that woody plants can also represent an interesting production alternative for farmers. We are solving what types of trees, how and where to grow them on agricultural land and how to integrate them into our model of intensive agriculture,” described Lojka, according to him farmers show an increasing interest in this possible alternative.
There will be speakers not only from Europe, but also from America and Australia at the conference. “My colleagues and I tried to invite the best experts and practitioners from all over the world to the conference. For example, I am looking forward to the lectures and discussion with Kevin Walz and Michael Gold from the United States or Rowen Raid from Australia, who have many years of scientific but also practical experience with agroforestry from their countries. Joachim Milz from Germany will talk about his experiences with dynamic agroforestry, and other European practitioners such as Jo Smith from Portugal, Stephen Briggs from Great Britain and Adolfo Rosati from Italy will share their experiences with all of us. The icing on the cake will be the contributions of Christian Dupraz from France, who for me is the father of European agroforestry, and Patrick Worms from Belgium, president of the International Agroforestry Union,” Lojka listed.
The European Agroforestry Conference will be held in Brno from May 27 to 31, 2024. It is organized by the Czech Agroforestry Association as a branch of the European Agroforestry Federation (EURAF) in cooperation with Mendel University in Brno and other partners who have signed Memorandum of Cooperation on the organization of the conference , i.e. the South Moravian Region and the Statutory City of Brno. The technical part of the organization will be provided by AIM Group International agency. The event has been sponsored by the Minister of Agriculture, the Minister of the Environment, the Governor of the South Moravian Region, the Mayor of Brno and the Rector of Mendel University in Brno.
Contact for more information: prof. Ing. Bohdan Lojka, Ph.D., + 420 734 170 763, lojka@ftz.czu.cz, Fakulta tropického zemědělství, Česká zemědělská univerzita v Praze
www.euraf2024.mendelu.cz
More news
-
While conventional plastics take thousands of years to decompose in the wild, biodegradable materials take only a few months or even weeks. Scientists at the Faculty of AgriSciences are working on the development of these materials. They use them to…4. 9. 2025
-
Scientific expedition in Mongolia: new butterfly discoveries and warning signs…
Experts from Mendel University, in collaboration with colleagues from other scientific institutions, conducted biodiversity mapping during a three-week summer stay in Mongolia, focusing on the southwestern part of the country, the Gobi Altai region.…25. 8. 2025 -
Small, thorny, and perfectly camouflaged. A Czech scientist in Somalia has…
It is tiny, measuring about two centimeters, and almost invisible in the field. This is because its color blends in with its surroundings. We are talking about a new species of spurge discovered in West Africa by Pavel Hanáček and an international…22. 8. 2025 -
MENDELU brought playful forest pedagogy to Mongolia
A wide range of experts from MENDELU spent three intensive weeks in Mongolia, during which they focused on topics related to forestry, biodiversity, and strengthening the relationship between forests and society. This section also included a…11. 8. 2025 -
Coffee cultivation has a poor future due to climate change, agroforestry system…
Globally, coffee provides a livelihood for 125 million people. But forecasting models show that its cultivation has a poor future due to climate change. Sites suitable for growing Coffea arabica are predicted to decline dramatically. In that case,…4. 8. 2025 -
WATERLINE Workshop: International Water Research Experts were Shaping the…
On July 2nd WATERLINE organised a workshop for International Water Research Experts for in-depth consultation on policy recommendation guidelines on Digital Water Innovation.25. 7. 2025 -
Mendel fights a pea monster at the substation on Drobného Street
A unique mural dedicated to the father of genetics, Gregor Johann Mendel, now adorns the transformer station on Drobného Street near the MENDELU campus. The aim is to remind passers-by and those passing by of his personality and contribution to…21. 7. 2025 -
Saharan bacteria boost vine root growth by up to half
The vine is attacked by a number of pathogenic fungi that can completely destroy the plant within a few years. They usually get in through the cut wound. And if the plant is also stressed by drought and high temperatures, they are even more…15. 7. 2025 -
Heat and drought are damaging urban lawns. New species from the Pannonian…
Urban lawns, but also grasslands in the open countryside, are being negatively affected by climate change. This brings with it heat and drought, which not only causes grasslands to dry out, but also changes their composition and decreases their…3. 7. 2025 -
Healthy energy shots won the second year of the MENDELU Boost student…
The winner of the second year of the MENDELU Boost student business ideas competition was healthy energy drinks. The second place went to car accessories made from a 3D printer with a special coating, while the third place went to drones made from…23. 6. 2025