"Shen" Participates in the 8th European EURAF Conference 2026
From 22 to 26 July 2026, the 8th European EURAF Conference took place in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. The event brought together researchers, farmers, practitioners and other professionals from Europe and beyond to share knowledge, research and practical solutions for the wider use of agroforestry.
EURAF, the European Agroforestry Federation, brings together agroforestry associations from 22 European countries, as well as research institutions working in the field. Its conference is held every two years and provides a space for learning, exchange and networking.
The 2026 conference focused on four main topics:
Agroforestry for food production in a changing world
Farmer-friendly agroforestry
Reconciling agriculture and nature
Agroforestry systems design
“Shen” brings Armenia’s experience to the discussion
Agroforestry is an important part of “Shen” NGO’s environmental work in Armenia. The conference offered a valuable opportunity to learn from European experience, build new professional connections, and share lessons from “Shen”’s work with communities in Armenia.
Katalina Sanches, “Shen” NGO Integrated Expert for Forestry/Agroforestry, attended the conference with the support of Brot für die Welt, a long-standing supporter of “Shen” NGO in Germany.
On 25 July, Katalina joined the session “Social Perspectives in Agroforestry” together with Tobias Kühnhanss from the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL). They presented “Synergies between Agroforestry and Reforestation, a Community Project in Armenia.”
The presentation introduced the FORACCA project and shared “Shen” NGO’s experience in implementing community-based agroforestry in Armenia.
Learning from European agroforestry practices
The conference also included an excursion on 24 July. Participants visited permaculture and forest garden sites at the School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences in the canton of Bern. They also visited two agroforestry farms.
One of the farms uses a water management system based on keyline design developed by Dr. Philipp Gerhardt of Baumfeldwirtschaft Deutsche Agroforst GmbH. Dr. Gerhardt supports “Shen” NGO in designing and building keyline systems at two agroforestry sites in Ttujur and Balak.
The visit gave “Shen” NGO an opportunity to see these systems in practice and hear first-hand experiences from people who have worked with Dr. Gerhardt.
Climate change makes the transition more urgent
The heat wave and drought that affected Neuchâtel and much of Europe during the conference were a strong reminder of the growing climate risks facing agriculture and rural areas.
Agriculture has an important role in both climate adaptation and mitigation. In this context, agroforestry is becoming increasingly relevant. By combining trees and other woody plants with agricultural production, agroforestry can support more resilient land-use systems while also creating opportunities for farmers.
“Shen” NGO’s work in Armenia reflects this approach. The organisation is developing community-based agroforestry systems that link environmental restoration with local economic opportunities.
Building stronger networks for agroforestry
The EURAF Conference also highlighted that the wider adoption of agroforestry depends on more than research and technical knowledge.
Local needs, economic conditions, policies and traditions all influence whether farmers and communities adopt new practices. Strong links between researchers, extension specialists, farmers, and other local actors are also essential.
Sharing knowledge and building these connections can help develop agroforestry systems that respond to local conditions and support more climate-resilient agriculture.
For “Shen” NGO, participation in the 8th European EURAF Conference was an important step towards strengthening its links with the European agroforestry community and bringing new knowledge back to Armenia. We look forward to continuing this exchange and participating in the next EURAF Conference, which will take place in Spain in 2028.
