Characterizing the agroecological transition of Italian farming systems using FADN database

The Common Agricultural Policy for the period 2023-2027 encourages the transition towards sustainable agriculture in line with the goals of the European Green Deal. Agroecology is gaining recognition as a valuable approach to enhance the sustainability of faming systems. However, there is limited knowledge of the status quo of the farming systems and their readiness for transition. This paper investigates the agroecological performances of the Italian farming systems and their structural and organizational determinants at farm level. The study is based on the adaptation of the Tool for Agroecology Performance Evaluation (TAPE) methodology to use Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN). Also, a panel between-variance regression was estimated to identify the key determinants of the degree of transition. The results indicate that the agroecological approach has not yet been widely adopted by the Italian farms. Additionally, factor such as farm location, farm structural characteristics, type of farming, farm management, and farmer’s socio-demographics play a significant role in explaining the variation in the adoption of an agroecological production system. The findings provide a knowledgebase for developing targeted policies and monitoring progress towards agroecological transition .