The 5th European Agroforestry Conference (https://www.euraf2020.eu/) was held from 17 till 19 May 2021 as an online event.
The Conference is a biennial initiative of the European Agroforestry Federation and is meant to foster the science and practice of agroforestry in Europe. The participation and contribution to the Conference of representatives of all agricultural stakeholders (researchers, agriculture and forest extension technicians, farmers, students and policy makers) has made it interesting also to present the innovation of row management in organic orchards developed within DOMINO. A poster, presented with a short video, titled ”Agroecological approach in soil management of apple organic orchards” described the concept of growing aromatic plants as living mulches on the tree rows that has been tested at INHORT.The choice of species to be used for this purpose considered the provision of additional eco-services such as control of weeds and soil pests,and the increase in biodiversity, but also as a potential additional source of income. However, to support the adoption of such practice in farms, it was underlined that also other agronomical practices (e.g. fertilization and water management) need to be considered when selecting the species, envisioning their application within the framework of a whole cropping system rather than just as an alternative agronomical practice. Such approach would match the concept of agroforestry (or agroecology), which can be defined as a dynamic, ecologically based, natural resource management system that, diversifies and sustains production for increased social, economic and environmental benefits for land users at all levels.