Home / / / Guidelines for Branding and Certification in Agroforestry Business Plans

Publication

Guidelines for Branding and Certification in Agroforestry Business Plans

This report, developed within the DigitAF project, provides guidance for designing agroforestry business plans that incorporate branding and certification strategies to increase the value of agroforestry products and services. Building on previous analyses of agroforestry value chains and certification approaches across Europe, the report emphasizes that effective business planning should extend beyond technical, environmental, and financial considerations to include marketing and market development. It examines different pathways for capturing additional value from agroforestry systems, including short value chains, diversification of revenue streams through environmental service markets and recreation opportunities, and the use of branding and certification schemes. The report highlights the importance of defining brand identity, developing a clear value proposition, understanding market positioning, and considering collective approaches to branding. It also reviews certification options relevant to agroforestry products, including organic labeling, geographical indications, animal welfare standards, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity enhancement schemes. The findings suggest that integrating agroforestry into existing certification frameworks may be more effective than creating dedicated agroforestry certification systems. The report provides practical recommendations for producers, policymakers, and value-chain stakeholders seeking to improve market recognition, profitability, and sustainability of agroforestry enterprises.

View source

This work is licensed under CC-BY 4.0

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21397706

Altmetric score:

Dimensions Citation Count:

Export citation:

RIS (.ris)

TI  - Guidelines for Branding and Certification in Agroforestry Business Plans 
AU  - Burgess, P. 
AU  - Aynekulu Betemariam, E. 
AU  - Marco, B. 
AU  - den Herder, M. 
AU  - Hübner, R. 
AU  - Lawson, G. 
AU  - Moreno, G. 
AU  - Smith, J. 
AU  - Warlop, F. 
AU  - Gosme, M. 
AB  - This report, developed within the DigitAF project, provides guidance for designing agroforestry business plans that incorporate branding and certification strategies to increase the value of agroforestry products and services. Building on previous analyses of agroforestry value chains and certification approaches across Europe, the report emphasizes that effective business planning should extend beyond technical, environmental, and financial considerations to include marketing and market development. It examines different pathways for capturing additional value from agroforestry systems, including short value chains, diversification of revenue streams through environmental service markets and recreation opportunities, and the use of branding and certification schemes. The report highlights the importance of defining brand identity, developing a clear value proposition, understanding market positioning, and considering collective approaches to branding. It also reviews certification options relevant to agroforestry products, including organic labeling, geographical indications, animal welfare standards, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity enhancement schemes. The findings suggest that integrating agroforestry into existing certification frameworks may be more effective than creating dedicated agroforestry certification systems. The report provides practical recommendations for producers, policymakers, and value-chain stakeholders seeking to improve market recognition, profitability, and sustainability of agroforestry enterprises. 
PY  - 2026 
UR  - https://www.cifor-icraf.org/knowledge/publication/47036/ 
DO  - https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21397706 
KW  - agricultural products, agroforestry, branding, business planning, carbon market, certification, ecosystem services, marketing, rural development, sustainable agriculture, value chains 
ER  -

Endnote (.ciw)

%T Guidelines for Branding and Certification in Agroforestry Business Plans 
%A Burgess, P. 
%A Aynekulu Betemariam, E. 
%A Marco, B. 
%A den Herder, M. 
%A Hübner, R. 
%A Lawson, G. 
%A Moreno, G. 
%A Smith, J. 
%A Warlop, F. 
%A Gosme, M. 
%D 2026 
%U https://www.cifor-icraf.org/knowledge/publication/47036/ 
%R https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21397706 
%X This report, developed within the DigitAF project, provides guidance for designing agroforestry business plans that incorporate branding and certification strategies to increase the value of agroforestry products and services. Building on previous analyses of agroforestry value chains and certification approaches across Europe, the report emphasizes that effective business planning should extend beyond technical, environmental, and financial considerations to include marketing and market development. It examines different pathways for capturing additional value from agroforestry systems, including short value chains, diversification of revenue streams through environmental service markets and recreation opportunities, and the use of branding and certification schemes. The report highlights the importance of defining brand identity, developing a clear value proposition, understanding market positioning, and considering collective approaches to branding. It also reviews certification options relevant to agroforestry products, including organic labeling, geographical indications, animal welfare standards, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity enhancement schemes. The findings suggest that integrating agroforestry into existing certification frameworks may be more effective than creating dedicated agroforestry certification systems. The report provides practical recommendations for producers, policymakers, and value-chain stakeholders seeking to improve market recognition, profitability, and sustainability of agroforestry enterprises. 
%K agricultural products 
%K agroforestry 
%K branding 
%K business planning 
%K carbon market 
%K certification 
%K ecosystem services 
%K marketing 
%K rural development 
%K sustainable agriculture 
%K value chains

Publication year

2026

Authors

Burgess, P.; Aynekulu Betemariam, E.; Marco, B.; den Herder, M.; Hübner, R.; Lawson, G.; Moreno, G.; Smith, J.; Warlop, F.; Gosme, M.

Language

English

Keywords

agricultural products, agroforestry, branding, business planning, carbon market, certification, ecosystem services, marketing, rural development, sustainable agriculture, value chains