Agroforestry Tree Domestication and Economic Sustainability
Summary
Agroforestry tree domestication integrates the systematic selection, propagation and cultivation of multipurpose tree species within farming landscapes to deliver both economic and environmental benefits. By harnessing natural genetic variation through trait characterisation and breeding, domestication transforms wild or semi-wild trees into reliable sources of fruit, nuts, oils and other products. This process supports rural livelihoods by generating diversified income streams, adding value through local processing and strengthening market access. Economically sustainable systems emerge when improved germplasm is matched with participatory nursery networks, transparent value chains and supportive policy frameworks. At landscape scale, domesticated trees contribute to soil fertility, carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation, thereby enhancing resilience to climate variability. Successful examples include the selection of high-yielding fruit cultivars, the development of seed orchards and the establishment of cooperative marketing structures. Ongoing challenges encompass maintaining genetic diversity, overcoming regulatory barriers to seed exchange and ensuring equitable benefit sharing. Looking ahead, integrating advanced phenotyping, community-driven selection and public–private partnerships promises to accelerate the conversion of indigenous trees into commercially viable and ecologically sound components of global agroecosystems.
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Agroforestry Tree Domestication and Economic Sustainability publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in agroforestry tree domestication and economic sustainability across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Agroforestry: A land-use system combining trees with crops or livestock to enhance productivity, biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Domestication syndrome: A suite of morphological, physiological and biochemical traits that distinguish cultivated plants from their wild progenitors.
Germplasm: The genetic resources of a species, including seeds or vegetative material, used for breeding and conservation.
Non-timber forest products: Harvested goods from forests other than wood, such as fruits, nuts, oils and medicinal extracts.
Participatory breeding: Collaborative selection and improvement of plant material involving both researchers and local stakeholders.
References
- Morphological and genetic characterization of jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) in the Kayunga and Luwero districts of Uganda. BMC Plant Biology (2024).
- Domestication Syndrome in Dacryodes edulis (Burseraceae): Comparison of Morphological and Biochemical Traits between Wild and Cultivated Populations. Plants (2022).
- The Future of Food: Domestication and Commercialization of Indigenous Food Crops in Africa over the Third Decade (2012–2021). Sustainability (2022).
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