Regional Agroecological Agroforestry Program (RAAP)

The Institute for Agroecology’s Regional Agroecological Agroforestry Program (RAAP) launched in 2025 with the goal of supporting burgeoning and established agroforestry initiatives in Vermont and New England through co-learning and participatory action research (PAR). We bring an agroecological approach, grounded in transdisciplinarity and agroecology principles. As with all institute initiatives, we aspire to deeply align with the IFA guiding pillars.

Our Approach

The IFA’s RAAP utilizes a Participatory Action Research approach, partnering with local farms and organizations to co-create research goals through a practice of collaboration and reciprocity. Through RAAP, we aim to use our positionality as a research institution to support and uplift regional agroforestry actors and co-create knowledge to advance an agroecological approach to agroforestry in the region.

Activities to Date

Agroecology Extension (AX) Summer Research Fellowship Agroforestry Track

The Agroecology Extension (AX) Summer Research Fellowship program brings together undergraduate students from across the country to contribute to ongoing research projects happening within the Institute for Agroecology. This year, students from UVM and NYU came together to work on agroforestry research in Vermont, conducting agroecological site assessments of three regional farms instituting or managing agroforestry systems. Students conducted baseline soil tests, contributed labor, and conducted interviews with farmers to assess the presence of agroecological principles on these sites.

Researchers and participants in the field

Agroforestry Course

Launched in 2025, Agroforestry: An Agroecological Approach explores agroforestry as an alternative land use option to confront climate change both locally and internationally. The course presents a conceptual and practical overview of the field of agroforestry, drawing examples from both temperate and tropical regions. Students visit farms across Vermont that are practicing or planning to practice agroforestry, including Cloud Water Farm, Bread and Butter Farm, the Intervale Center, and Dartmouth Organic Farm.

Agroecological Agroforestry Collaborative (AAC)

The Agroecological Agroforestry Collaborative (AAC) brings together agroecologists focusing on agroforestry research, currently from UMaine, Dartmouth, UVM, and Bread and Butter Farm, in monthly working group meetings to share knowledge and resources in an effort to expand co-learning and collaboration within the field of agroecological agroforestry.

IFA Regional Gathering

The IFA’s 2025 Regional Gathering, held at Knoll Farm, featured its first-ever agroforestry track, approaching agroforestry from the perspective of agroecology and the pillars of IFA including co-creation of knowledge, equity, and systems transformation. The sessions centered both on current understandings and practices of agroforestry, including current challenges and social contexts, and the historical positioning of tree-based agriculture in the Northeast. The workshops brought together people working in research and education, as well as in extension, urban and rural agriculture, and non-profits, among other roles.