What we can learn from Malawi: Trees can benefit health, economy and climate

What do Denmark and Malawi have in common? At first glance, not much. However, over the past 20 years, both countries have lost around 15 percent of their tree cover according to Global Forest Watch. In Denmark, this has led to a so-called Green Tripartite Agreement, which aims to plant one billion trees so as to restore nature and benefit the climate.

However, the Green Tripartite Agreement has yet to decide how the planting of trees can be integrated into agriculture and our food system. A Danish-led study from landlocked Malawi in Southeastern Africa provides new insights for Denmark to learn from, according to researchers from the University of Copenhagen’s Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management.

Trees planted as part of agricultural systems can do more than support biodiversity and serve as carbon sinks. They also appear to improve nutrition, enhance food security and promote economic growth.

In this study and a previous study, the researchers investigated the impact on the health of Malawian women of living near trees and of trees being a food source in their diet. The research highlights a significant positive correlation between the number of trees surrounding a household and the intake of essential minerals and vitamins in women's diets. Women are traditionally the ones to carry out much of the agricultural work in Malawi. At the same time, the country struggles with poverty and malnutrition.

“In Malawi, we see that women who have trees, such as fruit and nut trees, on their farms, consume a more nutritious diet with higher levels of essential nutrients like iron, vitamin A and zinc. This shows that trees in agriculture can do more than just benefit the climate,” explains postdoc Emilie Claire Vansant, the study’s lead author.

Trees in agriculture were common a century ago

The study also found that trees such as mango, guava and various nut species didn’t just supply nutrition and improve people’s health, but also served as a source of income for farmers. Similarly, 100 years ago in Denmark, forests and trees were considered an important part of Danish agriculture. This included agroforestry systems, where people, nature, and sometimes livestock benefited from each other.

“Today, tree planting is often seen as being in opposition to agriculture, but historically, Denmark used trees, such as hedgerows, in agricultural settings. While that tradition has nearly disappeared with the industrialization of agriculture, perhaps it is time to reconsider the benefits of bringing trees back to farmland through agroforestry,” says associate professor Laura Vang, co-author of the study.

The researchers believe that policymakers and authorities should carefully consider which tree species to plant as part of the Green Tripartite Agreement. Indeed, trees can serve multiple functions beyond just benefiting the climate, and could include ones that produce marketable fruits and nuts.

"A promising option could be to focus on more native species such as walnut, hazel and various fruit trees, which don’t just benefit climate and biodiversity, but could also play a role in Danish food culture and our economy," says Emilie Claire Vansant.

Looking to Malawi for inspiration

According to the researchers, introducing more fruit and nut trees to Danish farmland could benefit the country’s food supply. Another similarity between Malawi and Denmark is that both nations’ food systems are dominated by a narrow selection of crops that are used in many different products. This makes food systems more vulnerable, reduces dietary diversity and places significant pressure on nature.

“Many food systems are extremely focused on just a few staples, such as maize, rice, and wheat. And this isn’t just an issue in low-income countries –– we also see a false sense of food diversity in European supermarkets, where the majority of products are actually based on the same few crops,” says associate professor Laura Vang.

In Malawi, trees and forests have also proven useful in protecting against extreme weather conditions, such as during Cyclone Freddy in 2023. During the devastating cyclone, researchers observed that areas devoid of trees suffered both severe flooding and landslides.

“When forests are cleared, the risk of drought, erosion and devastation from extreme weather events increases. Integrating trees into farmland and the landscape can create more resilient ecosystems,” says Emilie Claire Vansant.

Therefore, the researchers argue that the many new trees to be planted in Denmark should be seen as an active resource, rather than just a climate mitigation tool – and that there is much to learn from Malawi.

“Malawi’s experiences show that trees and agriculture can go hand in hand. We often talk about how low-income countries can learn from Denmark, but in this case, it might be the other way around. Malawi has demonstrated that tree planting can be far more integrated into the food system, economy and social structure,” concludes Laura Vang.