Hi everyone, We are developing a ~2.5 ha commercial agroforestry project in eastern Spain, in a Mediterranean climate. The farm was formerly agricultural land but has been largely abandoned for ~15 years. We are aiming for a productive system centered on fruit trees. Two experiments we're considering implementing a small intensive cut-flower area and eucalyptus for cut foliage. The attached design shows our target/productive crops. The support species are not shown yet. Its AI generated and not very true to the actual design but we think it gives a general idea of what our vision is. We started a support-species laboratory in March 2026. Our current shortlist of longer-lived support species includes: - Paulownia - Melia azedarach - Wild olive / acebuche - Mulberry - Acacia saligna - Leucaena - Lentisco - Teucrium We also have a broader pool of pioneer/early secondary species that we are testing for biomass, establishment, soil cover, temporary shade, nutrient cycling and biodiversity. So our main question now is not which species exist, but how to turn this into a practical production system. We'd particularly appreciate experience on the following questions: 1. Support trees before or together with fruit trees? --> Would you establish support species 6–12 months beforehand, simultaneously, or use a staged approach? 2. How complex should a commercial consortium be? --> How many support species per productive line have worked for you in practice? 3. From pilot to production: After one year of trials, how do you decide which consortium is good enough to scale? As we planted the whole laboratory on the same weekend, we feels that some failures might not necessarily mean that that species should not be planted at all. Perhaps it was just not the right moment for it or the seed or plant material we used wasnt great... 4. Simplification: Have you simplified your system after several years? Which species did you eventually remove? 5. Spontaneous vegetation: How do you integrate existing vegetation rather than simply clearing everything? We have lots of Hyparrenia, Lentisco, Fennel, Pine and Wild Olives growing on our land and feel that it wouldnt make much sense to remove it all just to have a bare piece of land to start with. 6. Has anyone combined commercial cut flowers with agroforestry/syntropic systems? Experiences from conventional/ecological floriculture are also very welcome.

As most of Europe is sizzling I'm wondering about people's opinions on irrigation, In Brittany, the region where I live, there's the reputation that it's always raining, when the last two years we have had drought during summer. This year especially there's only been 3 or 4 millimetres of rain since April. Most of the newest tree rows are completely dead, and the moisture meter readings are 2 to 3 % . It's in an area that's difficult to pump water to with any pressure and the sandy soil looses it quickly, even with the addition of compost and mulch. One interesting thing is that the Scots broom, our strongest Pioneer is almost thriving. So when I replant at the end of the season I'll use Pioneer plants and only add productive trees when I'm sure the soil is improving enough to hold moisture.