While agroforestry technologies have been shown to increase production and food security and contribute to income generation, how can we ensure the science of agroforestry truly has a positive impact on development?

A session on Bridging Science and Development, during the second day of the World Congress of Agroforestry, will explore the conditions which are necessary to ensure agroforestry science has a positive influence on social, environmental and/or economic development.

What type of agroforestry science is needed to deliver positive development? How can science ‘on’ development be converted to science 'for' development in agroforestry? What policy approaches help to bridge science and development? These are among the questions which speakers working in academia, development, policy and extension will attempt to answer.
Best practice in establishing agroforestry research for development projects will be discussed along with what is currently known about the adoption of science-based agroforestry technologies and what is required to convert agroforestry research into policies.

Presentations will also analyze the ability of agroforestry research to contribute to local capacity development and the current situation with regard to where science and development practitioners working on agroforestry already cooperate and where is there room for improvement.

Photo: Coffee experts share knowledge about pruning management in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia. (courtesy Enggar Paramita, World Agroforestry Centre)