Qualitative Analysis of Perceptions and Experiences of Western MA Farmers with Agroforestry Methodology 

Presenter: Samuel Jonasson Hunt

Faculty Sponsor: Leda Cooks

School: UMass Amherst

Research Area: Environmental Science and Sustainability

Session: Poster Session 1, 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM, 163, C3

ABSTRACT

Agroforestry is a multifaceted land use method that purposefully integrates agricultural activities with tree planting, which has been shown to greatly improve the overall health and longevity of a farm and its surrounding environment. This study evaluates perceptions and exposures that farmers in the Pioneer Valley have had in relation to their usage of agroforestry methodology on their land. This research is inspired by the increasing role that agroforestry is playing in climate change mitigation and environmental protection in the global agricultural sector in response to harmful industrial agricultural methods. 

The data will be attained through 30 minute semi-structured interviews with an estimated 15-20 farm owners in the area, consisting of conversations around landowner demographics, ownership history, and general perceptions of agroforestry. I hypothesize that this research will expose gaps in knowledge and potentially negative perceptions of agroforestry. These issues will be used to inform the creation of a formalized guide to agroforestry that is unique to the specific concerns and gaps in knowledge of the local population. This guide will be published in association with UMass’s Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment (CAFE). Through my project, I hope to bring further awareness and clarity to what is often an overlooked farming practice in the United States, and inspire local landowners to invest in agroforestry for the sustainability and prosperity of their farms. 



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