Breadfruit Agroforestry – Overcoming Barriers to Adoption

Commodities

Practices

• Crop Production: agroforestry

While agroforestry is promoted as a method of farming that can increase social and environmental outcomes, there is a deficiency of practical information on agroforestry outcomes to support adoption. The proposed project builds upon an existing collaboration between the University of Hawai’i, Hawai’i ‘Ulu Producers Cooperative, and Propagate to build resources, narratives, and tools to support the adoption of diversified agroforestry production. This project most specifically targets current and potential breadfruit agroforestry farmers in Hawai’i, however, the findings and resources will be more broadly applicable to potential agroforestry farmers throughout the tropics, such as Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and other US-affiliated Pacific Islands.

This project gathers data primarily documenting the economic costs and benefits of agroforestry practices, specifically centered around ‘ulu (breadfruit; Artocarpus altilis) and other indigenous co-crops. This work expands upon the recently created ‘Ulu Agroforestry Guide (https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2263/2015/files/HUPC-Ulu-Agroforestry-Guide.pdf?v=1654287013) and ‘Ulu Production Primer (https://ulu.coop/breadfruitprimer), both co-produced with the project partners, to provide more comprehensive quantitative and qualitative assessments of benefits associated with agroforestry adoption in Hawai‘i. The two overarching research objectives are: to gather and build detailed data on the benefits and costs of agroforestry in partnership with farmers who have adopted agroforestry; and to survey non-agroforestry farmers about their barriers and reservations in regards to adopting agroforestry. Through on-farm, co-produced methods, and peer-to-peer learning of genuine real-world skills, scenarios and problems, this project helps overcome barriers while assessing them. It gives support to improve existing agroforestry efforts and aims to provide economic clarity and confidence for establishing new agrosystems for both farmers and financiers.

This project’s educational objectives get research on the ground by building and refining tools, curating resources that address farmers’ barriers to agroforestry adoption, and providing direct learning opportunities through peer-to-peer engagement as well as through technical assistance and farmer training programs. Specifically, education outputs transmit what we are researching through: (1) community education, in-person engagement, and hands-on learning of agroforestry at a demonstration agroforestry system at O.K. Farms; (2) a compilation of existing resources that address barriers to agroforestry adoption, as prescribed by Hawai’i agribusiness professionals; (3) webinars, engagement with GoFarms agroforestry training program, and peer-to-peer learning networks; (4) creating an Agroforestry Guide that provides quantitative examples of the costs and benefits of agroforestry adoption in Hawai‘i; and (5) using finding to refine the Overyield software for tropical ‘ulu agroforestry to more accurately forecast economic viability and environmental outcomes.

Research Objective 1: Quantifying benefits and costs of ‘ulu agroforestry

Research Objective 2: Surveying farmers about barriers to adopting agroforestry

Education Objective 1: Community engagement through Farmer Agroforestry Field Days

Education Objective 2: Resources and interventions to address barriers to agroforestry adoption, prescribed by Hawai’i agribusiness professionals

Education Objective 3: Agroforestry Adoption Webinars and other Trainings

Education Objective 4: Expanded second edition of ‘Ulu Agroforestry Guide

Education Objective 5: Overyield model software development for tropical ‘ulu agroforestry