FAQ

• Will it compete with crops on water?

  Most trees have roots that can go deeper than the crops in place, which greatly limits competition between trees and crops. Tree species can be selected on this criterion.

  In certain contexts, trees can locally improve the quantity of water in the soil. This is particularly the case on plots prone to soil erosion: trees slow down water run-off and encourage water infiltration into the soil (increased porosity thanks to roots and soil fauna, better water retention thanks to organic matter and all the soil fauna, bacteria and fungi).

  In other contexts, windbreaks significantly reduce surface drying of the soil (and thus increase residual surface moisture). It should be noted that drying winds are the main factor in surface soil drying (and not the sun or heat waves).

• Will it compete with crops on sun?

  It is indeed a very important factor to consider while designing a project. On peripheral hedge projects in which we seek to keep crop exposition, hedgerows at the north of the plot avoid this problem.

  Also, on the other hand one can be seeking shade for it crops during summer as a protection.

  Also, note that in winter the impact is less important if you mainly select deciduous species.

  Only hedges in south of plots pose significant problem for crop development. The hedges to the east and west only provide part-time shade for some of the plot.

• "It will reduce my production!"

  It has been studied that yields may decrease during the first years and increase later. It varies from one system to another. If you consider dense agroforestry plantation then tree must become a production on its own and we must analyze the land equivalent ratio (LER) which analyze the overall production on the plot. For example, mixed orchard-pasture models produce 6 to 20% more cattle/milk and fruits per hectare than cattle/milk per hectare with a conventional model or fruits per hectare with a conventional model.

• Is it expansive?

  It is a one-shot investment with few remaining costs for the maintenance. Then, if we analyze it on the long-term benefits perspective, planting a tree can be a more affordable solution to sequester carbon than cover crops that you should buy and sow each year.

  Nevertheless, cover crops are also an essential pilar of regenerative agriculture for natural soil decompaction, fertilization, infiltration, soil protection etc. Also, subsidies are available in France (Pacte de la haie, Agences de l’eau etc.) and in Europe (EIT Food).

• Is it high maintenance costs?

  Tree maintenance takes place in winter when agricultural activity is at its lowest. For the five first years, maintenance activities include two mechanical weedings per year. One pruning should be carried out during the first five years and two shaping cuts for future timber trees.

  The cost depends on the farmer machinery and whether he uses a service provider.

  The « pacte de la haie » estimates that maintenance and hedge refill cost for the first 3 years is 4.30€/linear meter (including farmer’s working time) and is partly covered by subsidies.

• Will it bring pest and diseases?

  Farming is about equilibrium. Conventional farming systems are focused on eliminating undesired animals, microbials, weeds etc. even if it causes destruction of crops auxiliaries, general biodiversity and even destroys other ecosystems and organisms by contaminating water systems.

  Hopefully in nature each organism is feeding another one. Trees bring food and home for a wide variety of living organisms (mammals, chiropterans, birds, bacteria, fungi, lepidopteran etc.), including the predators of our crops' well-known pests. This is why while designing a project we select a high diversity of species to bring back a biodiversity as wide and as complex as possible, increasing our chance to naturally regulate pest populations.

  We also focus on avoiding species which bring pests and diseases to the crops farmer has in his rotation.

• "I will not be able to use my machines"

  Getting the machinery used by the farmer is one of the essential pieces of information we gather in a project at the early hour. Our structures must never complicate daily farmer’s work. In the design, we consider the size of the machines, the space required for maneuvering, and the trajectories so the tree plantation project fits the agricultural context.

• Has it a lower interest than cover crops?

  Going regenerative is not about selecting one or another solution. A car works neither without wheels nor without an engine. Of course, it is not as simple, but each regenerative practice brings its benefits.

  For example, cover crops will help with fertilization and tillage reduction while hedges will help on constant habitat for crop auxiliaries and constant drought and flood resilience.

  You might have some benefits overlaps but overall, these are complementary initiatives.

  Yet, implementing cover crops or crop rotation are highly technical and mistakes can lead to dramatic losses. Peripheral hedges on the other hand are quite straightforward, need only one implementation and risks are low.

  Finally, soil conservation agriculture is generally led by cooperative technicians while agroforestry is a rare knowledge we can help with.

• Is it the last piece to implement?

  Same answer as above.