The United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines Agroforestry as "the intentional combination of agriculture and forestry to create productive and sustainable land use practices. These practices take advantage of the interactive benefits from growing trees and shrubs together with crops and/or livestock. Agroforestry has its roots in tropical food production systems. In regions with more temperate climates, agroforestry is separated into five distinct but related practices. The five practices are windbreaks, riparian forest buffers, alley cropping, silvopasture and forest farming."

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In addition to creating more opportunities and integrating these sustainable practices into existing agriculture and food systems, agroforestry also creates many short term and long term positive impacts such as: local and large scale social and economic benefits through jobs, better community focused food systems, climate resilience, improved soil and water management and more.​