Recognition of temperate-zone agroforestry as a separate discipline for teaching and research started to grow in the 1980's. The first North American Agroforestry Conference in 1989 eventually lead to the formation of AFTA. The following history is adapted from a presentation by Mike Gold to the AFTA Annual Meeting, June 28, 2004 - Editor.

AFTA's original logo dates from 1993.

1989  First North American Agroforestry Conference (NAAC) is convened at University of Guelph, o­ntario, Canada, principally organized by Andrew Gordon. Participants recognize uniqueness of event as the first meeting exclusively focused o­n all topics related to temperate zone agroforestry. Further realization that no professional organization exists to serve as a "home" for all scientists and practitioners with an interest in all aspects of temperate agroforestry. Proceedings of 1st NAAC published.

1991  Second NAAC held at University of Missouri, Columbia, principally organized by Gene Garrett. Participants agree to establish AFTA as a nonprofit association focused o­n temperate zone agroforestry. It's purpose will be to organize, catalyze and network all individuals with a common interest in temperate agroforestry. Primary geographic focus to be North America. A group of volunteers forms a steering committee to establish the new association, and Michael Gold agrees to serve as first President (and Treasurer).

1992  The Steering Committee of AFTA develops a Mission Statement, Goals and Objectives. A newsletter is started, The Temperate Agroforester, with Christof den Biggelaar, Ph.D. candidate at Michigan State, as Editor. In other developments, the SAF Windbreak Technology Working Group changes its name to the Agroforestry, Windbreak and Conservation Working Group, and Henry Pearson begins work o­n temperate silvopasture for the ARS in Booneville, AR.

1993  AFTA has approx. 200 members. The first quarterly issue (4 pages) of The Temperate Agroforester is published. The Third NAAC is held at Iowa State University in Ames, principally organized by Richard Schultz and Joe Colletti. Proceedings are published plus a Special Issue of Agroforestry Systems journal containing selected papers.

1994  AFTA issues document commissioned by US Soil Conservation Service for inclusion in upcoming Resource Conservation Act Appraisal. It formalizes the definition of agroforestry as "an intensive land management system that optimizes the benefits from the biological interactions created when trees and/or shrubs are deliberately integrated with crops and/or livestock." AFTA convenes a workshop at the National Arbor Day Foundation in Nebraska City, NE to develop a guiding strategy for further development and promotion of agroforestry in the US.

1995  AFTA releases a policy paper outlining national needs that can be addressed through agroforestry to influence the upcoming US "Farm Bill." The Fourth NAAC is held at the University of Idaho in Boise, principally organized by John Ehrenreich., the proceedings of which are later published. AFTA members approve a new constitution to formalize the group as an unincorporated, nonprofit association. Gene Garrett becomes the second AFTA President, and Miles Merwin is appointed Editor of the newsletter. In other developments, the USDA National Agroforestry Center is established as a partnership between the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Forest Service. IUFRO launches several new Working Groups related to agroforestry, including Temperate Agroforestry.

1996  AFTA convenes an "Agroforestry Stakeholders Workshop" for policymakers in Washington, D.C. attended by representatives of USDA agencies and non-governmental organizations. AFTA co-sponsors a special session o­n agroforestry at the annual meeting of the American Society of Agronomy in Indianapolis, IN. Selected papers were later published by ASA as a textbook, North American Agroforestry: An Integrated Science and Practice. AFTA's first web site is created in collaboration with CINRAM at the University of Minnesota.

1997  Following approval by the members, AFTA is legally formed as a nonprofit, public benefit corporation in the state of Missouri, headquartered at the University of Missouri, Columbia. The 5th NAAC is convened at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, principally organized by Jim Lassoie and Louise Buck. At the meeting, the first annual Terry Johnson Agroforestry Award (co-sponsored by AFTA, US Forest Service and the National Woodland Owners Assn.) is presented to recognize outstanding service by an landowner or resource professional in the field of agroforestry. AFTA issues a national report, Status, Opportunities and Needs for Agroforestry in the US, commissioned by the National Agroforestry Center, which includes assessments of agroforestry potential in nine regions and recommendations for policy, research and educational actions to advance its adoption. AFTA officers participate in the first live satellite broadcast o­n agroforestry practices from USDA in Washington. Joe Colletti takes office as AFTA President. AFTA's web site moves to the University of Missouri with Dean Gray as Webmaster.

1998  AFTA co-sponsors the first "North American Conference o­n Enterprise Development through Agroforestry: Farming the Forest for Specialty Products," principally organized by Scott Josiah at the University of Minnesota in St. Paul. The Regional Council is established to represent agroforestry interests in different geographic areas of the US and Canada. Under contracts with the National Agroforestry Center, AFTA begins compiling a public database of research and educational activities at institutions around the US. The first AFTA Annual Meeting of members is held at the University of Missouri, Columbia.

1999  AFTA receives recognition by the IRS as a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) charitable organization. The Sixth NAAC (and AFTA Annual Meeting) is held in Hot Springs, Arkansas, principally organized by Terry Clason and Catalino Blanche. The proceedings were later published by AFTA. Pete Schaefer starts his two-year term as AFTA President.

2000  AFTA issues a national report, Agroforestry in the US: Research and Technology Transfer Needs for the Next Millennium, to inform policy makers and others. The AFTA Annual Meeting is hosted by University of Nebraska, Lincoln and features a tour of windbreak and alley cropping research projects.

2001  The Seventh NAAC (and AFTA Annual Meeting) is hosted by the PFRA Shelterbelt Centre in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, principally organized by John Kort and Bill Schroeder of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. The proceedings are published by PFRA. The Agroforester's Bookshop is founded, enabling AFTA members to receive significant price breaks for subscriptions to Agroforestry Systems journal and agroforestry-related books. Miles Merwin becomes AFTA President.

2002  AFTA publishes a special issue of The Temperate Agroforester that summarizes the design and implementation of the five major agroforestry practices, along with a case study of a private landowner who has successfully implemented the practice. It is distributed nationally to individuals and organizations involved in agriculture and forestry. The AFTA Annual Meeting is hosted by the University of Minnesota and features a tour of landowners involved with forest farming, alley cropping, silvopasture and windbreaks in southeastern Minnesota.

2003  The 8th NAAC (and AFTA Annual Meeting) is held at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon, principally organized by Steve Sharrow. It includes a special o­ne-day Riparian Buffer Symposium in addition to sessions o­n the other principal agroforestry practices. Proceedings are later published by AFTA and OSU. AFTA launches the Agroforestry Outreach Initiative, funded in part by the Green Foundation, in collaboration with the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT). The project will improve AFTA's outreach capability through an improved web site, and expansion of its information resources o­n temperate agroforestry. AFTA presents a poster o­n the Agroforestry Outreach Initiative at the United Nations 12th World Forestry Congress in Quebec City, Canada. Jim Lassoie starts his two-year term as AFTA President.

2004 (to date)  AFTA launches its new web site at aftaweb.org with new design and regularly updated content. The Temperate Agroforester (currently in its 12th year of continuous publication) becomes primarily an o­nline journal. AFTA co-sponsors the first World Agroforestry Congress at Orlando, FL, principally organized by P.K. Nair, and convenes the AFTA Annual Meeting during the Congress. AFTA creates the Temperate Agroforestry Forum as an o­nline meeting place for peer-to-peer networking and sharing of agroforestry information.

By Michael Gold
University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry, Columbia