EMEA researcher, Tiago Zibecchi, took part in the “Agroforestry in Europe” event, held in Coruche, Portugal, on September 25th, 2024. Organized by RefreSCAR and actors of the EU CAP Network, this event served as a key initiative for generating discussions on agroforestry adoption and the importance of building collaborative networks to tackle sustainability challenges in the sector.
During the panel session, Tiago presented the work of the “Finance and Policy Working Group” which he leads as part of the ReForest project (2022-2026), funded by the European Union (Project Nr. 101060635). His remarks focused on mapping financial, technical, and political barriers, and emphasized the need to integrate theoretical frameworks with practical insights to develop effective financing schemes for agroforestry systems. These schemes will be refined across the 8 living labs involved in the project, ensuring they target to local needs and specific conditions.
Tiago also introduced the newly launched Reforest Engagement Platform, a digital space designed to unite stakeholders and promote ongoing discussions through forums and webinars. This platform aims to improve cooperation and accelerate the adoption of agroforestry systems across Europe, while investigating potential funding sources in the public, private, and philanthropic sectors.
The event included a visit to one of the Cork Oaks agroforestry farms in the region, and provided a valuable opportunity for participants to exchange knowledge and strengthen agroforestry synergies across the EU.
