Denmark

Innovation Centre for Organic Farming and Aarhus University

In Denmark MIXED is implemented by Innovation Centre for Organic Farming and Aarhus University in collaboration. The project is working with two groups of farmers practicing MiFAS (Mixed Farming and Agroforestry Systems) in different ways.

Agriculture in Denmark can be characterized as highly specialized, intensively managed and in general very productive. The highest concentration of livestock is in the western part of the country, where soils in general are more sandy and less fertile than in the eastern part of the country.

Organic Agroforestry Systems

Many organic farmers in Denmark are taking the potential contributions of the organic system to public goods into consideration - such as biodiversity, c-sequestration, animal welfare and environment (less leaching of nutrients, and protection of groundwater, streams, fjords and sea). Integration of trees and shrubs with agricultural crops and animal husbandry is, however, not a common practice in today’s organic agricultural systems. The drivers for the group of farmers that MIXED is working with is specifically to improve biodiversity, c-sequestration, animal welfare and environment.

The group of farmers are incorporating trees/shrubs on their individual farms in combination with crops, cattle or pigs. The agroforestry systems established by the farmers on their land represent a huge diversity in age, function and spatial arrangement of trees/shrubs. The organic agroforestry farms are located in different parts of Jutland. Several of the farmers are part of a larger agroforestry network recently established by Organic Denmark.

Nutrient cycling and green biomass production

Denmark is surrounded by shallow, nutrient vulnerable estuaries. Here agriculture is practiced close to the sea, and almost all drinking waters are pumped from rural groundwater reservoirs. In particular, some agricultural areas are highly vulnerable to leaching, and especially this is critical when combined with intensive livestock production. Such an area, situated around one of the inner parts of ‘Limfjorden’, is studied. Here, initiatives are taken to transform agriculture, including more grasslands and nutrient cycling, for higher nutrient and greenhouse gas efficiency, resilience to climate and other change, and multiple landscape level benefits including protection of the environment as the result. The transformation is linked with new biomass technology though which the grass is turned into protein fodder and feed, with side streams being used for cattle fodder and for biogas production with potentials for both improved soils, energy production, fertilisers and various food- and non-food products as outputs.

Livestock and trees – learn about pigs and poplar from a Danish MIXED farmer

Hestbjerg farming is one of the partners in project MIXED and has for several years undertaken a project combining pig production with poplar trees.

Green biomass production (Aarhus University). Photo by Tommy Daggaard

Agroforestry - an overview. Photo by Moxtell og Thyviral

Covering weed. Photo by Organic Denmark

Agroforestry. Photo by Organic Denmark

Cows and trees. Photo by Søren Gammelmark

Agroforestry - an overview. Photo by Moxtell og Thyviral

Newly established willow, common alder and mulberry for i.a. feed in avenues at milk producer Mads Helms at "Sommerbjerg". Photo by Organic Denmark

The trees in Agroforestry practice provide shade and shelter for the cows at Sommerbjerg. Photo by Organic Denmark

May 30, researchers and farmers meet within the framework of the “H2020 MIXED”, “Robust” and “OUTFIT” project to present and discuss research and practice within agroforestry. The event was held at "Hotel Sinatur" in Kibæk, Denmark which is a partner in the Robust project.

New results from the OUTFIT project was presented at the H2020 MIXED "Inspiration day on agroforesty" in DK, May 2023; "OUTFIT" recently tested whether pregnant sows will eat willow silage for the benefit of a better feed supply on the farm.

Chef at “Hotel Sinatur”, DK Anne Cathrine Christensen shared her view on whether there is a market for agroforestry products in the hotel industry: "There is to a large extent a market for these products in our Hotel Chain - especially the younger generation makes high demands on biodiversity, animal welfare and climate", she concludes.

News from the network

Lessons learned from the Danish network

Insights from farmers and stakeholders regarding agroforestry with livestock: Challenges, dilemmas, and potential Solutions

Practice and technologies

Machinery for harvesting, maintenance, and establishment is a challenge.
Need for knowledge on species interactions (trees, shrubs, crops).
Agroforestry with livestock requires insights on timing (e.g. when are the trees robust enough to withstand livestock foraging), stocking density, robust species, and tree fodder value.

Regulation and subsidies

Unflexible regulations limit diversity and adaptability (species choice, planting).
Complex and fragmented subsidy structures.
Lack of subsidies for establishment and long-term support.

Economy and production

High establishment costs, no income in early years.
Uncertainty about yields and marketing of new products.
Lack of valuation and certification of agroforestry products.

Knowledge and research

Research projects need to be long-term (currently 4 years, but systems last 50+ years!).
Lack of data on impact on biodiversity, climate, environment, and animal welfare.
Need for more case studies and system designs focused on resilience and productivity.

Communication and advisory

Agroforestry lacks a clear definition and awareness among farmers, consumers, and advisors.
Evidence-based knowledge is difficult to access, and experts are hard to find.
Limited opportunities for advisory services and education.

Solutions and ways forward

Knowledge bank with case studies, economic examples, biodiversity, climate effects, etc.
Education and advisory programs for farmers and experts.
Demonstration and research farms.
Simplified and effect-based subsidy schemes.
Cooperatives for shared equipment and marketing.
Increased consumer awareness and certification to create added value.

Within network 1, a key challenge identified was the lack of knowledge on designing new agroforestry systems with livestock. Specifically, there is uncertainty about a) how to design the systems to maximize the effects on biodiversity, b) how trees in temporal systems impact arable crop production, and c) the trees’ performance in providing supplemental feed on the farm. Lessons learned from network 1 pilot studies and data collection are summarized in the produced leaflets: