The Kenya-based World AgroForestry Centre is one of the 15 Future Harvest Centers of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). It takes the lead in the science and practice of integrating "working trees" on small farms in rural landscapes. The Centre began as the International Council for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF) in 1978 and was primarily focused on the African landscape. Eventually, there was a growing awareness for global recognition of the key role trees play in farms. ICRAF became part of the CGIAR system in 1991 to conduct strategic research on agroforestry at a global scale, changing its name from Council to Centre.

As part of the CGIAR, the Centre linked its work to the goals of the system—reducing poverty, increasing food security, and improving the environment—through two ways: overcoming land depletion in smallholder farms of subhumid and semi-arid Africa, and searching for alternatives to slash-and-burn agriculture at the margins of the humid tropical forests. It has expanded into Latin America and Southeast Asia while strengthening its activities in Africa.

In 2002, the Centre changed its name to the World Agroforestry Centre to reflect its crucial role in agroforestry research and development. It operates in six geographic (regional) programs, namely Eastern and Central Africa, Sahel, Southern Africa, Latin America, Southeast Asia, and South Asia; and has four research and development themes: land and people; trees and markets; environmental services; and strengthening institutions.

The Centre also hosts three CGIAR Systemwide Programs: the African Highlands Ecoregional Program, the Alternatives to Slash-and-Burn Program, and the Gender and Diversity Program.

Dr. Dennis Philip Garrity is the Centre’s current director general and he is assisted by a staff complement in 23 countries.

Read more on the activities of the Centre at http://www.worldagroforestry.org.

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