During its first 36 months, DigitAF established six Living Labs across Europe, involving more than one hundred stakeholders. These LLs identified needs through surveys, mapped value chains, and assessed the costs and benefits of baseline practices and agroforestry interventions. Policy analysis was carried out at national and European levels, resulting in policy briefs on agroforestry. Key deliverables included a database on agri-environmental indices, methods to record agroforestry areas and greenhouse gas emissions, and the LPIS Sustainability Compass, alongside contributions to carbon farming and certification.
An online catalogue was created, integrating technical and financial assessment tools. Working groups on financial instruments and tree species selection produced roadmaps and publications, while field trials provided data to validate models. Research on productivity, microclimate, and water status led to improved simulation approaches, including coupling hydraulic and agroforestry models. New results on light distribution were published, and LPIS data integration into the Open Platform Architecture progressed. Value chain analysis was consolidated with a European agroforestry map, now available on the DigitAF website with inventories of products and services. Tools to assess biodiversity, greenhouse gas emissions and soil health were developed, with protocols and measurements already underway. Work on certification and branding progressed and will lead to guidelines for viable business models.
The Agroforestry Virtual Space has evolved into a functioning ecosystem, hosting open-source codes, policy briefs, datasets, catalogues, and the agroforestry map, and is now actively used by a growing online community.
Together, these advances provide evidence on the benefits and challenges of agroforestry in Europe, while building a digital infrastructure that supports co-design, testing, and adoption of practices through interoperable tools, open data, and strong stakeholder engagement.
