Forests for food - Ecosystems for biodiversity, soil health and food

Inspired by principles of agroforestry and the forest gardens that are found in many tropical countries, food forests make best use of the fruitful interaction between trees and crops. Food forests contain carefully designed layers of trees, shrubs and perennial crops that offer a variety of products such as nuts, herbs, fruit and other edibles. At the same time, they improve soil functions and biodiversity.

Food forests create natural ecosystems where the roots of trees help store carbon in the soil and improve nutrient circulation, and where the soil remains covered, which prevents water loss and erosion. With healthy soil as their foundation, food forests require less or no artificial fertilisation and help decrease CO₂ emissions, reducing the effects of climate change.   

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