Food Forest

 Food forests mimics the broadleaf forest and it's forest edge, with production of mainly nuts, berries and fruits. Where short-term yield of agriculture is combined with the long-term investment of the forest. This creates an efficient, resilient and productive food system based on the site/customer's needs, which systematically increases the value of the land. Food forests can contain 10 different levels: mega trees, larger trees, smaller trees, shrubs, herbs, ground cover, root plants, aquatic plants, climbing and fungi. To be defined as a food forest, it must be larger than 0.5 hectares, where at least 60% is canopy, contain at least 5 levels and 50 different species where 75% are edible. This is to ensure high-functioning multifunctional ecosystems, which maximize your returns with minimal effort.  With food forests, you get the tool to meet the challenges of today and the future (defined by the World Economic Forum, WWF, UN, Swiss RE).  

Food forests contribute to several ecosystem services such as carbon storage and climate adaptation, rich in biodiversity, diversified nutrient-rich food production, purifying water, air and soil, stress-reducing environments, resilient, erosion control, production of bio-materials and high-value timber, without the need for artificial fertilizers/pesticides 

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Food Forest Production / hectar

Annual production

  •     Berries 9 - 12 different species, 3 - 7 tons of annual after 8 years
  •     Fruits 5 - 7 different species, 4 - 8 tons of annual after 12 years 
  •     Nuts 3 - 5 different species, 3 - 5 tons of annual after 30 years 
  •     Sallad 3 - 6 different species, 1 ton annual after 15 years



One time incomes

  •     Christmas tree production after 8 - 15 years
  •     Biochar/Firewood production 100 cubic meters after 20 years
  •     Hardwood 150 - 300 cubic meters after 80 - 120 years
  •     High-grade timber 200 - 600 cubic meters after 300 - 500 years


Combining operations

  • Feed for meat production: Can be combined with poultry after 5 years, pig after 10 years and beef / lamb after 20 years. Increases the ecological viability of higher game populations. 
  • Essential oils: Can be combined with herbs in the undergrowth or make use of flowers and sap produced in the food forest. 
  • Medicinal plants: In the undergrowth, herbs and other plants can be planted with the woody plant used as medicines or health supplements

Ecosystem service from Food Forest

  •  Carbon storage: 75 tons/hectare of carbon dioxide stored in the biomass and increase soil organic carbon content (soils can separate hundreds of tons of organic carbon content/hectares) after 25 years.
  • Biodiversity: Higher biodiversity than protected nature after 10 years. 
  • Pollination: With its high percentage of diversity in environments and species specifically among nectar-giving plants, it attracts a diversity of pollinating insects. 
  • Pest control: With its high biodiversity, it reduces the risk of a few species taking over, through likely available predators that could harm society. 
  • Drought resilience: Higher variety of species that increases the likelihood of some producing crops. Food forest higher humidity increase plants growth and resilience. Increased SOC (soil organic carbon) increases the earth's ability to store water. 
  • Flood prevention: Reduces the power of rain before it reaches the ground, reducing the risk of cemented soil, increasing the soil's water absorption capacity 
  • Purification of air: High leaf area increases the ability of the system to purify the air from soot particles or other harmful particles, which are then stored or purified in the plant. 
  • Water purification: Absorbs, settles and prevents nutrients or waterborne contaminants from reaching water sources. 
  • Erosion control: Variation of root structure increases the ability of the system to stabilize the soil (theory). Reducing the power of rain reduces the risk of erosion. 
  • Sedimentation of heavy metals: High primary production creates more biomass which increases sedimentation which therefore allows increased storage of heavy metals, through their usually high density.

    

Food Forest contribute to reach international goals

Contributes to achieving 9 of the UN's 17 Global Goals

  •     Goal 1. No poverty
  •     Goal 2 No hunger
  •     Goal 3 Good Health and Well-being
  •     Goal 6 Clean Water and Sanitation for all
  •     Goal 7 Affordable and clean energy
  •     Goal 8 Decent work & economy
  •     Goal 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
  •     Goal 13 Combat climate change
  •     Goal 15 Ecosystems and Biodiversity


European environment action program to 2030

  • Achieving the 2030 greenhouse gas emission reduction target and climate neutrality by 2050
  • Enhancing adaptive capacity, strengthening resilience and reducing vulnerability to climate change
  • Advancing towards a regenerative growth model, decoupling economic growth from resource use and environmental degradation, and accelerating the transition to a circular economy
  • Pursuing a zero-pollution ambition, including for air, water and soil and protecting the health and well-being of Europeans
  • Protecting, preserving and restoring biodiversity, and enhancing natural capital
  • Reducing environmental and climate pressures related to production and consumption (particularly in the areas of energy, industry, buildings and infrastructure, mobility, tourism, international trade and the food system) 

Apprentice

With this training, you gain knowledge of the how a food forest works, based on the law of nature. The tools to design and establish food forests with direct work on site. Where you gain experience to find which elements are needed for a successful establishment of food forests, Including internships and the opportunity to work after the end of the course. That gives you the tools to work globally, specifically in the temperate region, but generally where forests exist.
Price 10 000 SEK, including meals and lodging for three nights and four days. The apprenticeship is completed after one week, then two weeks of internship are added if desired. Due to a limited number of places, there is a selection process.

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