Climate-Smart Agriculture with Agroforestry.

Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) combines the three dimensions of sustainable development (economic, social and environmental) by jointly addressing food security and climate challenges. Transitioning to CSA requires a landscape approach comprised of multifunctional practices that can provide mitigation and adaptation services as a key component while meeting production objectives. Agroforestry, the intentional integration of trees and shrubs with crops and/or livestock, is emerging as a viable CSA strategy for use within U.S. agriculture.  Key mitigation services include: 1) sequestering carbon in biomass and soils and 2) reducing GHG emissions via energy savings and fuel reductions. Key adaptation services include: 1) altering microclimate to reduce impacts of extreme weather events on crop production, maintain quality and quantity of forage production, and reduce livestock stress; 2) providing habitat to support organisms (e.g., native pollinators, natural enemies of crop pests, and other wildlife requiring habitat within the expansive U.S. agricultural land area); 3) providing greater structural and functional diversity to maintain and protect air, water and soil quality, and 4) creating diversified production opportunities within operations to reduce risk under fluctuating climate.  Agroforestry, as well as other perennial-based practices, can provide that added CSA safeguard under the uncertain conditions facing these lands but will require investment to build the information base needed for reliable deployment and to attain greater awareness and acceptance by the broader agricultural community.  A report spearheaded by the USDA on agroforestry as a CSA tool in the U.S. was just completed and is expected for release by early 2016.