Production systems that combine crops with forestry and fruit trees in the same area, aimed at a more efficient use of natural resources. Arrangements of species, spacing and management dynamics are designed according to farmers' interests, local soil and climate conditions, mechanization availability and workforce. Within the range of possible options, Embrapa Environment features studies on the management of plants like, for instance, grasses to produce biomass (forage sorghum, Panicum maximum cv Mombaça grass); green manure (jack beans, pigeon peas, Crotalaria juncea and Crotalaria spectabilis); annual cash crops (intercropped corn, cassava and beans); vegetables; and even macaw palm trees. There are also studies concerning biodiverse AFS, their environmental and production potential, and their ability to supply resources either for natural bee populations or for integration with rational beekeeping. Another study was the socioeconomic analysis of AFS in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, and the association of stingless bees to AFS, which allows for extra income for farmers. Their advantages include more diversified production, higher resilience against market fluctuations, better working conditions, improved food security, lower production costs and higher stability against climate change. Moreover, they offer a range of ecosystem services, such as soil conservation and improvement, carbon sequestration, animal shelter, water resource protection and higher rainfall infiltration.