On 25 October 2024, the picturesque Wine Museum of Berchidda hosted the first co-design event dedicated to enhancing sustainable grazing practices in agri-pastoral and agri-silvopastoral systems. The workshop, titled “Pastures”, was specifically designed for young land managers and local stakeholders with varying levels of involvement in agricultural activities.
Agro-silvopastoralism is a way of using land that brings together three main activities:
- Pastoralism – raising animals like sheep or cattle on open pastures.
- Agriculture – growing crops or plants for food, feed, or other uses.
- Woodlands – including trees and forests as part of the landscape.
These activities are combined in a smart and sustainable way, often on the same piece of land. For example, animals can graze under trees, crops can grow alongside pastures, and trees provide shade, improve soil, and even produce timber or fruit. By mixing these land uses, farmers can get more benefits from their land while helping to protect the environment.
The event brought together 26 participants in person, including researchers and land managers, with an additional 17 agricultural advisors joining remotely. Discussions revolved around diverse grazing management strategies such as adaptive multi-paddock grazing, the use of GPS collars, and virtual fencing, with a focus on their application in the local Mediterranean context.
A highlight of the workshop was the sharing of best practices by researchers and practitioners, which sparked a lively debate on the opportunities and challenges of these innovative techniques in the region. The event concluded with valuable insights into how these strategies can be adapted to promote both environmental sustainability and the economic viability of local land management.
Organized as part of international projects MONALISA, SALAM-MED, LIVINGAGRO, and FAGESOS, the workshop exemplified the spirit of collaboration and innovation that underpins these initiatives. It also marked an important step toward co-creating practical solutions that address climate challenges, land degradation, and the sustainable future of Mediterranean silvopastoral systems.
