Land-use systems involving trees and/or crops and animals, some forms of which have been practiced for centuries, are now known by the term agroforestry. Scientific interest in agroforestry is a recent development, and is increasing world-wide. Considerable progress has been made in agroforestry research and extension in the tropical developing countries. Although the development has been slower in North America, efforts are just beginning to gather momentum to explore the potentials of agroforestry as an integrated, sustainable land-use option. In this context, much remains to be learned from the experience and results from the tropics. For example, Florida's subtropical climate affords unique opportunities to test the adaptability and potential of some promising new or under-utilized, tropical, tree crops. Nitrogen-fixing, leguminous fodder trees may bridge the dry-season fodder gap in late winter and early spring, providing support to the beef-cattle industry. Furthermore, the nitrogen-fixing capability of these trees may lead to reduced chemical N-fertilizer usage, thus contributing to improved environmental quality. Some of these topics are currently being investigated at the newly established (2001) Center for Subtropical Agroforestry (CSTAF) under my leadership, through a USDA/IFAFS grant.
Other significant aspects of my research contributions include my responsibilities
as the editor-in-chief of the "flagship" international journal in the subject
(Agroforestry Systems) and some major committee assignments in professional
societies. I also serve as the "Program Manager" of UF/IFAS International
Programs Cooperative Agreements with the Univeristy Autonoma Chapingo,
Mexico; and the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, India.