Multi-criteria analysis of the performance of agroforestry systems in France
Abstract
The MOCA and SAFARRI projects (2021–2025) aimed to characterize and elucidate the performance of 55 french silvo-arable agroforestry systems ranging from 5 to more than 50 years of age, based on interviews with agroforestry farmers and a multicriteria sustainability assessment using the DEXiAF© framework. Results showed that expected ecosystem services were generally achieved or even exceeded. However, only 49 % of farmers reported being satisfied with their agroforestry system. This dissatisfaction was primarily associated with economic benefits perceived as delayed and uncertain, as well as with costs, skill requirements, and labour demands that had often been underestimated at the design steps. The most sustainable systems combined strong environmental performance, territorial embeddedness, and integration into value chains, factors that appear to improve their economic viability. System maturity (>20–30 years) also appeared to be associated with the highest levels of sustainability of the agroforestry systems. These findings highlight the importance of long-term agroforestry advisory support that accompanies the agroforestry transition, integrates technical, economic, and value-chain dimensions, and anticipates the adaptations required to address future challenges.
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BibTeX
@article{grandgirard2026multicriteria,
title = {{Multi-criteria analysis of the performance of agroforestry systems in France}},
author = {David Grandgirard and Aude Alaphilippe and Nicolas Brault and Oussama Mghirbi and Christine Leclercq and Elise Verrier and Laetitia Fourrié},
journal = {Innovations Agronomiques},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.17180/ciag-2026-vol115-art02},
url = {https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-05805938v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Multi-criteria analysis of the performance of agroforestry systems in France
AU - David Grandgirard
AU - Aude Alaphilippe
AU - Nicolas Brault
AU - Oussama Mghirbi
AU - Christine Leclercq
AU - Elise Verrier
AU - Laetitia Fourrié
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/19
JO - Innovations Agronomiques
DO - 10.17180/ciag-2026-vol115-art02
UR - https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-05805938v1
AB - The MOCA and SAFARRI projects (2021–2025) aimed to characterize and elucidate the performance of 55 french silvo-arable agroforestry systems ranging from 5 to more than 50 years of age, based on interviews with agroforestry farmers and a multicriteria sustainability assessment using the DEXiAF© framework. Results showed that expected ecosystem services were generally achieved or even exceeded. However, only 49 % of farmers reported being satisfied with their agroforestry system. This dissatisfaction was primarily associated with economic benefits perceived as delayed and uncertain, as well as with costs, skill requirements, and labour demands that had often been underestimated at the design steps. The most sustainable systems combined strong environmental performance, territorial embeddedness, and integration into value chains, factors that appear to improve their economic viability. System maturity (>20–30 years) also appeared to be associated with the highest levels of sustainability of the agroforestry systems. These findings highlight the importance of long-term agroforestry advisory support that accompanies the agroforestry transition, integrates technical, economic, and value-chain dimensions, and anticipates the adaptations required to address future challenges.
SN - 1958-5853
SN - 1958-5853
ER -