Eighteen R&D institutions from six European countries have been participating in a co-operative research programme on Alternative Agricultural Land-Use with Fast Growing Trees since early 1993, with the financial participation of the European Commission (DG VI). This programme aims at developing new, more extensive land-use systems, based upon quality timber production
from set-aside agricultural land. The specific objective of the research project is to develop an integrated agroforestry modelling system, including technical aspects and integrating biological and economic data, devoted to simulation and decisionmaking for farmers, landowners, and land managers. Research is being developed in two main directions:
(1) A study of the technical aspects and scientific basis for agroforestry systems management (site characteristics and tree growth potential of available agricultural land, choice of tree genotype, tree establishment and management techniques, impact of agroforestry techniques on tree growth, form, and wood quality, agricultural techniques and rearing systems adapted to agroforestry, interaction processes between tree-crop or pasture-soil-animal).
(2) An integration of the above biological data into a modelling system (growth models for tree and agricultural components and
their interactions, development of a global biologically-based economic modelling system).
Social and environmental aspects are also being investigated.
The first shell of ALWAYS a field-based model describing a silvopastoral system under continuous grazing has been developed by scientists from MLURI (UK) and INRA (FR). It is now undergoing the validation process with data from other R&D institutes and from other countries. Extensions are under study to account for introduction of agroforestry practises at the farm level and at the landscape level. Technical results stress the imperative necessity of using the best possible plant material, adapted to the site, with good control of the herbaceous layer during tree establishment, and of practising early, adapted pruning operations. Animal performance is not affected by the presence of young trees, at least during the first five years.
Correspondence: Daniel Auclair, INRA-CIRAD, Unité de modelisation des plantes, B.P. 5035, 34032 Montpellier cedex 1, France
Telefax: +33-67101599