| dc.description.abstract | The Colombian coffee sector is under severe stress due to the impacts of climate change, fluctuating commodity prices and an ever-increasing demand for high-quality coffee. As such, there is a need to develop more sustainable production systems. The potential of agroforestry as an alternative to monoculture systems and strategy to mitigate the effects of climate change is recognized by several authors. However, there is still a limited understanding about the extent and the conditions under which agroforestry systems can help to improve ecological functioning, without compromising in terms of crop productivity. By conducting field measurements at 55 plantations in the Eje Cafetero, in the department of Risaralda, Colombia, this study provides insights into the potential of coffee agroforestry systems to enhance crop productivity, pest control, carbon sequestration and biodiversity. Findings demonstrate that agroforestry systems can enhance carbon sequestration and biodiversity when compared to monocultures, and that these ecosystem services are expected to increase over time, along with shade cover and structural complexity. Crop productivity and pest control were found to be determined by management intensity and geographical location, whereas no negative effect of shade was identified. Overall, results of this research demonstrate that the implementation of agroforestry practices can lead to substantial improvements in terms of carbon sequestration and biodiversity, while maintaining comparable levels of productivity and pest control. Results have hereby shown that agroforestry systems are dynamic, rather than steady-state systems, and that their potential to provide valuable ecosystem services depends on the interaction between shade structure and composition, management practices and local climatic and geographic characteristics. In the light of global climate change, agroforestry systems are expected to gain both relevance and popularity in the development of future-proof agricultural landscapes. | |
