Agroforestry systems (AFS) – land-use systems in which woody perennials are deliberately integrated with crops and/or livestock on the same land-management unit, following a specific spatial arrangement or temporal sequence – are increasingly promoted as a Nature-Based Solution for resilient and climate-adapted agricultural systems. Through the synergistic interaction of trees and herbaceous components, AFS deliver a wide range of ecosystem services (ES), including provisioning, regulating, supporting, and cultural services. The latter are closely linked to traditional agricultural landscapes, some recognized as FAO GIAHS (Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems). Despite their well-documented benefits, the adoption and conservation of AFS remain challenged by rapid global change, including climate change, rural depopulation, agricultural intensification, and the erosion of traditional knowledge.
AFS are complex systems that are challenging to study and implement. Only a few models simulate their biophysical processes, and available approaches are often data-intensive or poorly suited to their intended purpose. Experimental studies are also difficult to generalize, as results often depend on highly site-specific conditions and interactions. This complexity creates ambiguity in the definition of AFS, hindering their recognition in agricultural and environmental legislation.

In this context, the session aims to bring together researchers and practitioners to advance hybrid knowledge on AFS worldwide and support their practical implementation. We welcome contributions that:
- Assess ES of AFS across different scales;
- Evaluate the vulnerability of AFS under current and future scenarios, and their potential to contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation;
- Design innovative practices to improve the efficiency, productivity and sustainability of AFS;
- Investigate processes linked to the inclusion of trees in croplands and/or pastures through experimental or modelling approaches;
- Discuss barriers – technical, economic, governance-related – that hamper the successful implementation of AFS;
- Showcase transdisciplinary approaches involving stakeholder engagement and co-creation in AFS;
- Highlight understudied traditional AFS and the value of traditional ecological knowledge.

The session is organized within the Shared Innovations for Mediterranean Agroforestry Systems (SHARE) project, part of the PRIMA Programme supported by the EU.