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<p>Despite the potential of temperate agroforestry for enhancing climate mitigation, adaptation, and resilience, there is limited research about the type of operators who have implemented agroforestry systems in the&#xa0;northeastern US and why they have done so. We examine the diversity of agroforestry operations and the socio-cultural backgrounds, pathways, and experiences shaping adoption. We analyze practitioners’ guiding values, motivations, and definitions of success. We conducted 25 conversational interviews with silvopasture and polyculture operators across the Northeast region, including 12 in-person interviews following site tours, and 13 interviews via Zoom. Our findings show that agroforestry operators in&#xa0;the&#xa0;northeastern come from a wide diversity of sociocultural backgrounds, including multigenerational farmers and first-generation farmers, homesteaders and community gardeners inspired by social movements rooted in permaculture, community development, and ecological stewardship. The operators define success across socio-cultural, economic, and environmental dimensions, working towards responsible stewardship, environmental sustainability, climate resilience, and healthy ecosystems. These findings demonstrate that socio-cultural factors are central drivers of agroforestry engagement and shape the type of practices and operations that get established. These findings offer actionable guidance for extension programs, technical service providers, and policymakers seeking to design culturally responsive, equity-oriented support systems that reflect the actual motivations, social characteristics, and operational diversity of agroforestry practitioners in the northeastern US and beyond.</p>

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Socio-cultural backgrounds, guiding values, and motivations of agroforestry operators in the northeastern US

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月8日

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  • Umama Begum Ruba,
  • Analena B. Bruce

摘要

Despite the potential of temperate agroforestry for enhancing climate mitigation, adaptation, and resilience, there is limited research about the type of operators who have implemented agroforestry systems in the northeastern US and why they have done so. We examine the diversity of agroforestry operations and the socio-cultural backgrounds, pathways, and experiences shaping adoption. We analyze practitioners’ guiding values, motivations, and definitions of success. We conducted 25 conversational interviews with silvopasture and polyculture operators across the Northeast region, including 12 in-person interviews following site tours, and 13 interviews via Zoom. Our findings show that agroforestry operators in the northeastern come from a wide diversity of sociocultural backgrounds, including multigenerational farmers and first-generation farmers, homesteaders and community gardeners inspired by social movements rooted in permaculture, community development, and ecological stewardship. The operators define success across socio-cultural, economic, and environmental dimensions, working towards responsible stewardship, environmental sustainability, climate resilience, and healthy ecosystems. These findings demonstrate that socio-cultural factors are central drivers of agroforestry engagement and shape the type of practices and operations that get established. These findings offer actionable guidance for extension programs, technical service providers, and policymakers seeking to design culturally responsive, equity-oriented support systems that reflect the actual motivations, social characteristics, and operational diversity of agroforestry practitioners in the northeastern US and beyond.