Understanding the barriers and enablers to agroforestry adoption in Ireland through an innovation systems approach

The innovation of agroforestry is relatively new in Ireland, with uptake lagging behind targets. This study aimed to identify the reasoning behind this and identify the main barriers to the uptake of agroforestry. The Innovation Systems Approach was used as the analytical framework to the study whereby a structural-functional analysis was used to identify the main barriers/blocking mechanisms. Thirty-three interviews across all four domains of the innovation system (research, intermediary, enterprise and influencing) were undertaken with actors from the wider agricultural and forestry sectors networks. The results demonstrate the following key failures of the current Irish Agroforestry Innovation system: a low level of knowledge of agroforestry; a lack of research undertaken and capacity; a lack of interaction between actors; policy issues; and a lack of goals within actor organisations in supporting and promoting agroforestry. The paper provides a number of recommendations aimed at reducing the identified failures laid out as a set of goals. • As the concept of agroforestry is relatively new in Ireland, it can be classed as an innovation. • Although profitable financial incentives are currently in place in Ireland, agroforestry uptake is low. • The current Irish Agroforestry Innovation system consists of a number of structural and functional failures. • The main failures relate to a lack of knowledge dissemination and a lack of interaction between actors. • Other failures include policy issues and a lack of sufficient research being undertaken.