Agroforestry Research Trust

Agroforestry Research Trust
Name	Agroforestry Research Trust
Formation	1993
Type	Charitable Trust
Purpose	Research and promotion of agroforestry, perennial vegetables, and temperate agroforestry systems
Headquarters	Kent, England
Region served	United Kingdom, Europe, International collaboration
Leader title	Director
Leader name	Martin Crawford

Agroforestry Research Trust

The Agroforestry Research Trust is a charitable organisation based in Kent, England, established to research, conserve and promote agroforestry and temperate perennial crops. The organisation operates a living collection, conducts field trials and publishes practical guides aimed at growers, gardeners and researchers. Its work intersects with horticultural institutions, environmental charities and academic bodies across the United Kingdom and internationally.

History

Founded in 1993 by Martin Crawford, the organisation emerged during a period of renewed interest in sustainable land use influenced by institutions such as The Soil Association, Centre for Alternative Technology, Royal Horticultural Society and movements linked to figures like Sir Albert Howard and Friedrich Wilhelm Raiffeisen-style cooperative pioneers. Early collaborations included exchanges with botanical gardens such as Kew Gardens, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and community organisations influenced by campaigns like those of Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace in the late 20th century. The Trust’s development paralleled broader agroecological research trends promoted by universities including University of Reading, University of Cambridge, Imperial College London and European partners in projects associated with the European Union's rural development initiatives.

Mission and Objectives

The Trust’s core objectives include researching temperate agroforestry systems, conserving genetic diversity of perennial edible plants, and disseminating practical knowledge to land managers and the public. It aligns with goals advocated by organisations such as WWF, United Nations Environment Programme, Food and Agriculture Organization initiatives on agroforestry, and networks like the Permaculture Association and Soil Association. Specific aims emphasise perennial crop domestication, evaluation of nut and fruit species, and promotion of multifunctional land use models referenced by policy dialogues in forums such as United Nations Forum on Forests.

Research and Projects

Research activities encompass long-term trials, species evaluations and applied studies on understory integration, intercropping and soil improvement. Projects have examined species also studied by institutions like Institute of Horticulture, Rothamsted Research, John Innes Centre and international centres including CIFOR and Bioversity International. Trial themes include nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration relevant to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change discussions, resilience to pests studied in contexts like Centre for Ecology & Hydrology outputs, and propagation methods shared with botanical networks such as Botanic Gardens Conservation International.

Plant Collections and Trials

The Trust maintains a living collection featuring perennial edible species, nut trees, fruit shrubs and multifunctional trees drawn from genera studied by Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and researchers at Harvard University's Arnold Arboretum. Collections include temperate nuts related to research by A. J. Cook-style pomology traditions, fruiting shrubs common in horticultural literature from Charles Darwin-era plant explorers, and lesser-known species evaluated in parallel with trials at Cornell University, University of California, Davis and Wageningen University. Trial methodology reflects practices used by botanical and agricultural institutions such as Missouri Botanical Garden and regional arboreta, with monitoring protocols comparable to those in studies by Natural England and DEFRA-commissioned projects.

Publications and Resources

The Trust publishes practical guides, species fact sheets and a periodical catalogue that complement literature from organisations like Royal Horticultural Society, academic presses such as Cambridge University Press and popular manuals influenced by P. A. Yeomans-type land management texts. Its titles are used by practitioners alongside resources from Permaculture Magazine, extension services at University of Glasgow and manuals circulated by Garden Organic. The Trust’s dissemination channels echo outreach models from NGOs like The Land Trust and community education programmes run by institutions such as Kew Gardens.

Funding and Partnerships

Funding is sourced from charitable donations, plant sales, consultancy and project grants, with partnerships spanning NGOs, academic institutions and community groups. Collaborative links include universities such as University of Exeter, research bodies like Rothamsted Research, conservation charities such as Plantlife and networks including the European Agroforestry Federation. The Trust has participated in funded initiatives that intersect with programmes run by Natural England, regional development funds formerly administered under European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development frameworks, and philanthropic foundations active in sustainable agriculture.

Facilities and Public Engagement

Facilities at the Trust’s site in Kent include demonstration plots, nursery areas and an information centre modelled on outreach arrangements used by institutions like Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and educational sites such as National Trust properties. Public engagement comprises workshops, guided tours and plant sales that mirror community activities organised by groups like Garden Organic and Permaculture Association affiliates. The Trust also contributes to knowledge exchange at conferences hosted by organisations including Soil Association, Organic Research Centre and regional horticultural societies.

Category:Agroforestry Category:Charities based in Kent