Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Agroforestry, despite its well-documented environmental benefits, still holds significant potential for broader adoption. A critical factor for scaling agroforestry is ensuring its economic viability. There is a recognised need for more data on the socioeconomics of agroforestry and for research to move beyond biophysical indicators by placing greater emphasis on the analysis of socioeconomic dimensions. This study employed semi-structured interviews and the TAPE framework to investigate how participation in high-value markets influences the economic viability of agroforestry systems in Southwestern Antioquia, Colombia. The findings show that participation in high-value markets significantly increased farmers' incomes. A combination of high-value crops and value-added processing emerged as an effective strategy for improving profitability. Agro- and ecotourism also provided important supplementary income streams. Collaboration, primarily with associations, other farmers, extension services and cooperatives, supported access to high-value markets. Furthermore, participation in such markets created incentives for adopting agroecological practices. Beyond market incentives, farming decisions were influenced by values such as food sovereignty, tradition and environmental stewardship. This case study identifies strategies that small-scale agroforestry producers used to achieve profitability without compromising ecological benefits, such as soil conservation and biodiversity, or social values like food sovereignty. These strategies offer insights for designing and managing sustainable agroforestry production systems globally.