Deutscher Fachverband für Agroforstwirtschaft (DeFAF) e.V.

What Deutscher Fachverband für Agroforstwirtschaft (DeFAF) e.V. does

Deutscher Fachverband für Agroforstwirtschaft (DeFAF) e.V. is a German registered non-profit association (eingetragener Verein) that serves as the national professional body for agroforestry in Germany. The organization is dedicated to increasing the adoption of agroforestry systems — land-use practices that integrate trees or woody perennials with crops and/or livestock — by combining advocacy, education, knowledge dissemination, and applied research coordination. Its constituency spans farmers and agricultural operators, researchers and academic institutions, policymakers and public authorities, and the general public.

DeFAF's core offerings form a layered community and knowledge platform rather than a single technology product. The Agroforst-Info Portal (agroforst-info.de) acts as the central hub, integrating the interactive Agroforst-Landkarte (an agroforestry site map of Germany), the Agroforst-Akademie (a separate training portal offering certified courses, some eligible as Bildungsurlaub), the quarterly Infobrief newsletter, the members-only DeFAF-Kolloquium lecture series, the community Forum Agroforstsysteme, and the Agroforst-Botschafter practitioner ambassador network. The association structures its expertise across 8 specialist subject areas (Fachbereiche) and operates regional groups (DeFAF-Regionalgruppen) across multiple German states for in-person field events. DeFAF also leads or participates in a portfolio of funded research and demonstration projects (including AFiP, Agroforst.Jetzt, BioChEk, EELAP, Klimalandschaft Wolfenbüttel, MODEMA, MuD Agroforst Schleswig-Holstein, SAFFT4EU, and SEBAS).

The business model is membership-based and non-commercial. Revenue is generated through recurring membership dues, sales of publications and informational materials (digital and print), donations, and project-based grants from public and institutional sponsors. No revenue figures, pricing, or headcount data are publicly disclosed. The organization is governed by a Vorstand (board) and operates through a small professional Geschäftsstelle (office) team. Go-to-market is community-led: the association recruits members and supporters from diverse sectors, hosts the annual Forum Agroforstsysteme, runs regional groups, distributes the Infobrief, and participates in funded projects to expand reach and credibility.

Name

Deutscher Fachverband für Agroforstwirtschaft (DeFAF) e.V.

Legal name

Deutscher Fachverband für Agroforstwirtschaft (DeFAF) e.V.

Website

https://defaf.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Deutscher Fachverband für Agroforstwirtschaft (DeFAF) e.V. is a German non-profit professional association that promotes agroforestry adoption in Germany through membership, education, policy advocacy, and applied research coordination, serving farmers, researchers, policymakers, and the general public.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agroforestry Association Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Business Associations (81391)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Forestry & Reforestation (BPAGAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Reforestation & Afforestation Services (Planting, Site Prep, Regeneration) (IMAMAAAE)

Keywords

• Agroforestry advocacy
• Professional association services
• Agricultural education
• Sustainable agriculture
• Agroforestry training

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership dues: DeFAF operates as a registered association (e.V.) whose primary revenue derives from membership fees. Members pay annual dues to belong to the association and gain access to exclusive benefits including the DeFAF-Kolloquium and members-only content.
2. Publication sales: DeFAF publishes informational materials, handbooks, guides, and brochures available as digital downloads and in printed form. Proceeds from the sale of these publications contribute to revenue.
3. Donations and sponsorships: DeFAF accepts donations for charitable activities and may receive project funding through government and institutional sponsorships tied to its various agroforestry research and demonstration projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

DeFAF is Germany's national professional association for agroforestry, delivering a membership-based platform that combines advocacy, knowledge dissemination, and education. Core offerings include the Agroforst-Info Portal, an interactive Agroforst-Landkarte (map of agroforestry sites), the Agroforst-Akademie (certified training courses), the annual Forum Agroforstsysteme, the members-only DeFAF-Kolloquium lecture series, and a quarterly Infobrief newsletter. The association also coordinates funded research and demonstration projects and operates regional groups across Germany.

Product overview

DeFAF e.V. operates as a membership-based professional association offering a unified information and community platform centered on agroforestry in Germany. The core offering is the Agroforst-Info Portal, which serves as a central hub integrating multiple services: the Agroforst-Landkarte (interactive agroforestry map), the Agroforst-Akademie (certified educational courses), the Infobrief newsletter (4x annually), DeFAF-Kolloquium (member-only lectures), Forum Agroforstsysteme (community forum), and the Agroforst-Botschafter network (practitioner ambassadors). The organization also conducts and supports various research and implementation projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Agroforst-Akademie (Certified Agroforestry Training) Certified training and educational courses on agroforestry, available as Bildungsurlaub (educational leave) programs, targeting professionals, farmers, and aspiring practitioners seeking practical skills and credentials in agroforestry system design and implementation.
• Forum Agroforstsysteme (Annual National Conference) Annual national conference of the German agroforestry community, combining expert presentations, field visits, and networking. Open to members and the broader agroforestry community for engagement and knowledge exchange.
• Agroforst-Landkarte (Agroforestry Land Map) Interactive online map of agroforestry sites and related institutions across Germany, allowing users to explore existing agroforestry systems and submit new locations. A practical tool for farmers, researchers, and policymakers to monitor and locate agroforestry activity.
• DeFAF Membership Annual membership in DeFAF e.V., the German national agroforestry association. Members receive access to the members-only DeFAF-Kolloquium lecture series, exclusive content, regional group participation, and the broader DeFAF community.
• DeFAF Publications (Handbooks, Guides, Brochures) Informational materials, handbooks, guides, and brochures on agroforestry topics, available as digital downloads and in printed form. Targeted at farmers, advisors, students, and anyone seeking practical guidance on agroforestry systems.

Quantifiable outcome

• DeFAF maintains the Agroforst-Landkarte (Agroforestry Land Map) documenting agroforestry sites across Germany, supporting monitoring and awareness.
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Deutscher Bauernverband (DBV): Germany's main farmers' association represents the broader agricultural sector that DeFAF engages with. While not focused on agroforestry specifically, DBV competes for policymaker attention, farmer mindshare, and policy advocacy on agricultural issues.
• BUND (Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland): BUND is a major German environmental NGO with broader scope than DeFAF but overlapping interest in sustainable agriculture and ecosystem services. It is a comparable membership-based advocacy organization with national reach.
• World Agroforestry Centre (CIFOR-ICRAF): CIFOR-ICRAF is the leading global research institution on agroforestry, providing scientific knowledge and convening power that influence national associations like DeFAF. It is comparable as a thought leader in the same agroforestry domain.
• Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH): DUH is a major German environmental and consumer protection NGO. While broader in scope, it competes for environmental advocacy attention and donor/member support with DeFAF on sustainability issues including land use and agriculture.
• Naturland – Verband für ökologischen Landbau: Naturland is a leading German organic farming association with certification, training, and advocacy functions that overlap with DeFAF's mission around sustainable agriculture, though focused on organic rather than agroforestry systems.
• NABU (Naturschutzbund Deutschland): NABU is one of Germany's largest environmental NGOs with overlapping interests in sustainable land use, biodiversity, and climate. It competes for environmental advocacy funding and policymaker engagement with DeFAF on adjacent topics.

Regional players

• AGROOF (France): AGROOF is a French agroforestry research and consulting cooperative with comparable applied-research, training, and practitioner engagement missions. It serves as a regional equivalent operating in France rather than Germany.
• Schweizerische Vereinigung für Agroforstwirtschaft: The Swiss national agroforestry association is the closest geographic neighbor to DeFAF. Both operate as German-speaking membership associations promoting agroforestry adoption, with comparable program structures but focused on Switzerland rather than Germany.

Emerging players

• Arbeitsgemeinschaft bäuerliche Landwirtschaft (AbL): AbL is a German smallholder farming association advocating for sustainable and socially responsible agriculture. It shares DeFAF's policy advocacy posture and grassroots member-engagement model with overlapping farmer constituencies.

Direct peers

• European Agroforestry Federation (EURAF): EURAF is the pan-European agroforestry federation directly comparable to DeFAF at the EU level. Both serve as the recognized membership associations for agroforestry in their respective geographies, coordinating research, policy advocacy, and practitioner networks.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Deutscher Fachverband für Agroforstwirtschaft (DeFAF) e.V.