Integrating trees into crop and livestock production can support soil health, carbon sequestration and other ecosystem services, but the strength of the evidence varies across outcomes and agroforestry systems. Published in Ecosystem Services in 2026, this review by Andrea Schievano and colleagues maps the available evidence on temperate agroforestry, with a focus on identifying established benefits, methodological limitations and priorities for future research. The research brings together expertise from the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), Agroscope, the Thünen Institute of Forestry, CIRAD, Wageningen University and Research, and other European research institutions.

The authors synthesized 42 meta-analyses published between 2007 and June 2024, examining evidence on silvoarable and silvopastoral systems, agrosilvopastoral practices, hedgerows and other woody landscape features. The findings show relatively consistent positive effects on soil quality and carbon sequestration: approximately 65 percent of assessments reported significantly positive outcomes for soil carbon and soil quality indicators. Evidence on agricultural production was more variable, with negative effects frequently reported for individual crop yields. The authors caution that these results may not reflect the overall productivity of agroforestry systems, since integrated measures accounting for trees, crops and livestock are rarely used.

The review also identifies gaps in the evidence base. Only eight of the 38 ecosystem service groups in the Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services (CICES) were covered by meta-analytical results, while cultural services were absent. The methodological quality of the reviews was uneven, particularly regarding publication bias, data availability and transparent reporting. A georeferenced database of 1,495 primary studies accompanies the analysis, providing a resource for researchers, policymakers and practitioners seeking to strengthen the evidence base for agroforestry in temperate regions.