Our Resources

Dive into our Articles and Scientific Publications and learn about the diverse benefits of Dynamic Agroforestry around the globe! 

Dynamic Agroforestry cocoa plot in Bolivia with heavy pod production, showing diverse vegetation and shade management for high productivity and carbon sequestration.
17
Nov

Dynamic Agroforestry in the Cocoa Industry: Addressing Challenges and Offering Resilient, Sustainable Solutions

Dynamic Agroforestry (DAF) is an innovative approach to agriculture that integrates diverse plant species in a synergistic, stratified, diverse and dense manner, creating productive and resilient farming systems. In the...
Drone image of a long-term cocoa production trial in Alto Beni, Bolivia, comparing five systems: conventional monoculture (CM), organic monoculture (OM), conventional agroforestry (CA), organic agroforestry (OA), and dynamic agroforestry (SA).
05
Sep

Cocoa as a Driver of Reforestation

DAF is a farming system with dense, diverse planting and regular pruning, designed to maximize biomass growth without external inputs. A 14-year field trial shows that DAF systems store 66...
25
Aug

Yield Optimization with Dynamic Agroforestry: Beyond Single Crop Maximization

Conventional agricultural practices typically focus on maximizing the yield of a single crop through monoculture. While this approach may offer short-term productivity, it demands high inputs such as intensive land...
Agronomy for Sustainable Development
03
May

Cacao agroforestry systems have higher return on labor compared to full-sun monocultures

A recent study by Armengot et al. compared four cocoa production systems: agroforestry and monocultures, both under organic and conventional management, over the first five years after establishment. While monocultures...
11
Mar

Protecting Farmland: Essential Techniques to Prevent Soil Erosion

Soil erosion threatens both agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability. For large landowners and agribusinesses, controlling erosion is crucial for maintaining soil health and ensuring long-term profitability. This article explores the...
Cashew monoculture plantation in Burkina Faso with evenly spaced trees and dry soil, highlighting challenges of soil degradation and biodiversity loss
22
Sep

The Future of Commodity Crops: How Dynamic Agroforestry Tackles Environmental Challenges

Dynamic Agroforestry (DAF) offers a sustainable and profitable alternative to conventional commodity crop farming. By mimicking natural forest ecosystems and integrating a diverse range of plant species, it fosters resilient...
frontiers in sustainable food systems journal
08
Sep

CacaoFIT: the network of cacao field trials in Latin America and its contribution to sustainable cacao farming in the region

A recent study by Orozco-Aguilar et al. highlights the contributions of the CacaoFIT network—a collaborative effort among agronomists, researchers, and practitioners—to sustainable cocoa farming in Latin America and the Caribbean....
frontiers in sustainable food systems journal
18
Jan

Locally-selected cacao clones for improved yield: A case study in different production systems in a long-term trial

This study finds that using locally-selected cocoa clones can significantly boost cocoa yields. Conducted over five years in Bolivia, the research compared the performance of local clones against widely-used international...
03
May

The role of shade tree pruning in cocoa agroforestry systems: agronomic and economic benefits

This study examines how pruning shade trees impacts cocoa yields and income in agroforestry systems in Bolivia. Farmers who pruned their shade trees experienced yield increases from 430 kg/ha to...
03
Mar

Carbon Stocks, Tree Diversity, and the Role of Organic Certification in Different Cocoa Production Systems in Alto Beni, Bolivia

A recent study conducted in the Alto Beni region of Bolivia compared different cocoa cultivation systems to assess their impact on carbon stocks and tree diversity. Researchers examined cocoa monocultures,...
03
Sep

Sustainability of food security in different cacao production systems: A land, labour, energy and food quality nexus approach

This study compares cocoa monocultures and agroforestry systems under organic and conventional management over a decade in Bolivia. The findings reveal that while monocultures excel in cocoa-specific yields, agroforestry systems...
03
Jul

Cocoa and Total System Yields of Organic and Conventional Agroforestry vs. Monoculture Systems in a Long-Term Field Trial in Bolivia

A long-term field trial conducted in Bolivia by Schneider et al. compared cocoa monocultures and agroforestry systems under both conventional and organic management. The study found that while conventional monocultures...
Book Series Sustainable Agriculture Reviews
03
Apr

Cocoa in Monoculture and Dynamic Agroforestry

This study explores the differences between growing cocoa in monocultures and dynamic agroforestry systems (DAF), focusing on smallholder farmers in Bolivia and Côte d’Ivoire. Monoculture cocoa farming often leads to...
journal of cleaner production
11
Jul

Food-energy-water nexus of different cacao production systems from a LCA approach

A recent study by Armengot et al. examines the environmental impacts of different cocoa production systems, focusing on smallholder contexts. The research compares four young cacao systems: conventional monoculture, organic...
10
Dec

Cacao Agroforestry Systems Do Not Increase Pest and Disease Incidence Compared With Monocultures Under Good Cultural Management Practices

The study investigated whether cacao agroforestry systems lead to higher pest and disease incidence compared to monocultures. Contrary to traditional beliefs, the study found that when good cultural management practices—such...
Environmental Research Letters
25
Oct

Cocoa agroforestry systems versus monocultures: a multi-dimensional meta-analysis

A recent study by Niether et al. presents a comprehensive meta-analysis comparing cocoa agroforestry systems with monocultures. Analyzing 52 articles, the research found that while cocoa yields in agroforestry systems...

Curious?

Get in touch with us to find out how we can work together!