The 6th World Congress on Agroforestry in 2025 (#WCA2025) opened in Kigali, Rwanda, on Monday, October 20, 2025, and is scheduled to run until Friday, October 24, 2025, the international event brings together different stakeholders in agroforestry to exchange on the advancement of research and practices in agroforestry systems, natural resource management, and climate change adaptation and mitigation for sustainable and resilient agro-ecosystems.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Rwanda’s Minister of Environment, Dr Arakwiye Bernadette, emphasized that agroforestry goes beyond being a technical solution.
“Agroforestry is not just a technical solution. It is a shared endeavour that brings together people, disciplines, and landscapes around a common purpose: to live well with and from our land.”
For his part, Prof. Peter Worms, President of the International Union of Agroforestry (IUAF), said that While agroforestry as a congress has traveled around the world, it's now coming home,
“Agroforestry as a modern science was born in Africa. As a practice, it's still most prevalent here. While agroforestry as a congress has travelled around the world, it's now coming home, and I am glad it is doing so.”
He continued:
“One of the reasons why agroforestry is not spreading more rapidly is not just because trees take a while to grow, it’s because we don’t have the right words to give that picture of hope to people who depend on farming for their living.”
CIFOR-ICRAF CEO Eliane Ubalijoro's remarks opened the Congress: “Agroforestry begins and ends with people. From farmers to consumers whose choices sustain us, it thrives through partnership when science, policy, business, and community work as equals toward a shared goal: "The world urgently needs what agroforestry offers a pathway that restores balance between people and nature, between what we take and what we give back.'" She highlighted three pillars for scaling agroforestry: People: "Agroforestry begins and ends with people." Planet: "Trees anchor our landscapes, sustaining balance." Prosperity: "For agroforestry to grow, it must make economic sense."
This 6th World Congress on Agroforestry is brainstorming impressive conditions on how to use trees to boost the incomes of ever-growing smallholder farmers, as well as bring solutions to numerous ecological, social, and economic needs and challenges in agroforestry.
Written By : Jean Bernard MUKUNDENTE