MED joins AGROFORESTEAM project to promote agroforestry systems in the Mediterranean

In July, the kick-off meeting of the AGROFORESTEAM project took place, bringing together partners from seven Mediterranean countries. MED is one of the partner institutions in this project, funded by the PRIMA Programme and supported by the European Union, which aims to promote the adoption of agroforestry systems adapted to Mediterranean conditions through collaboration between researchers, land managers, farmers, and policymakers.

The MED team, led by researcher Helena Guimarães, with the collaboration of Catarina Isidoro, is responsible for the methodological guidance of the development of Multi-Actor Territorial Platforms (MAPs) in the different study regions — Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. These platforms aim to bring together diverse local actors to identify challenges and co-create solutions that promote more sustainable agroforestry practices.

In this context, the MED team will define and apply participatory methodologies and develop facilitation, monitoring, and evaluation tools to ensure the long-term continuity and effectiveness of these platforms.

In Portugal, the Tertúlias do Montado initiative, coordinated by Helena Guimarães, serves as an example of this approach. Since 2016, it has promoted dialogue and collaboration among various stakeholders involved in the Montado agro-silvo-pastoral system, integrating scientific and local knowledge to support its sustainable management.