Agroforestry research concentrates on solving problems in tropical regions
or on identifying practices that have been applied traditionally by rural
people overseas. Very little has been done with a focus on Europe or on
developing agroforestry as a discipline. An analysis of research projects in
the Federal Republic of Germany (DSE, 1987) revealed that 40% of all
agroforestry projects originated from forestry, 70% concentrated on sustainable
management of natural resources and/or food production, 80%
were field research projects, and 44% were located in the lowest among the
less developed countries (LLDCs) (almost two thirds of these in Africa). In
most European countries, the major agroforestry initiatives appear to
originate from forestry, whereas agriculture, animal husbandry, sociology,
etc., contribute to a lesser extent. An underexplored but promising area is
cooperation with agro-industries.