Organized research in agroforestry is just about 15 years old. The mai
n categories of research during this period have been methodological,
system- and component descriptions, experimental and quantitative, eco
nomic, and on-farm. The diagnosis and design (D & D) methodology, and
procedures for design and analysis of agroforestry field experiments h
ave been the major areas of methodological research. The system- and c
omponent descriptions have resulted in several databases, books, and o
ther publications. The main aspects of experimental research have been
screening and selection of multipurpose trees, component- and system
management trials, component interaction studies, and prototype evalua
tion of trials. Significant accomplishments have also been made in soc
ioeconomic and on-farm research. Although international attention in a
groforestry has been focused primarily on the tropics and developing c
ountries, significant expansion in agroforestry activities has also oc
curred in the temperate zone. However. the pace of these developments
has been slower than that in the developing world. In the area of agro
forestry education and training, the major accomplishment has been in
short-term and non-degree training. Several such training courses are
offered on general, as well as specific, aspects of agroforestry at di
fferent institutions around the world. The focus on agroforestry educa
tion (i.e., degree programs) has been, and will probably continue to b
e, at the postgraduate rather than undergraduate level. In the future,
agroforestry research will move rapidly from descriptive to quantitat
ive and experimental, with increasing levels of multidisciplinary invo
lvement. Applications of biotechnology, geographic information systems
, and computer-based predictive and integrated models are likely to be
come important aspects. Social and economic research is also likely to
see an upsurge. Agroforestry research and education are still in thei
r formative stages, but have gathered considerable momentum. Research
development seems poised to accelerate, and when - rather than if - th
at happens, education will follow suit.