Optimisation of productivity costs and ecological benefits of shade cocoa farming uncovered

Study identifies numerous benefits from woody species and their perceived value by farmers

First study to show canopy cover-dependent effects

New study suggests how future urban green spaces could be made hypoallergenic

Agroforestry is often proposed as a 'climate smart' strategy for allowing agriculture to both adapt to and mitigate climate change and sustainably increase agricultural production. This is because shade trees in agroforests may buffer growing conditions by creating favorable microclimates...

The multifunctional role of shade trees for conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services in natural forests and agroforests is well documented, yet we lack insights into the impact of shade tree species identity on pest and disease dynamics on agroforestry crops such as coffee and cacao, and ...

Shade trees in coffee farms are promoted worldwide for ecological sustainability and adaptation to climate change. However, contradicting reports on the effects of shade trees in coffee agroforestry systems are emanating from Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica) farmers. Therefore, this study: (1)...

Enhancing agrobiodiversity offers a suite of functions key to the sustainability of low input agroecosystems. The pairing of shade trees in pan-tropical tree-crop systems represents one of the most common and widespread applications of agroecosystem diversification, yet given the vastly...

Through microclimate modifications, coffee agroforestry systems have both facilitative and inhibitory effects on the persistence of Hemileia vastatrix, a major fungal pathogen. Wind, a key element in the dispersal of H. vastatrix uredospores, is affected by shade tree presence, especially at the...

Diversified coffee agroforests modify microclimate conditions in comparison with monocultures, impacting the success of significant plant pathogens, such as Hemileia vastatrix, which causes coffee leaf rust (CLR). However, research is often limited to the dichotomous analysis of shaded agroforestry ...