Assessing agroecological transition of farming systems: an application of the Tool for Agroecology Performance Evaluation (TAPE) in Italy

Current agri-food systems do not meet global expectations in terms of environmental, social, and economic sustainability. However, transitioning towards more sustainable agri-food systems requires a holistic understanding of the main features and challenges of agroecosystems. Using the “Tool for Agroecology Performance Evaluation”, this study aims to assess the level of agroecological transition and the sustainability performances of farms in the “Distretto agroecologico delle Murge e del Bradano”, an area located in Southern Italy. First results show that farm characteristics, such as production method, type of farming, and farm size, can affect the level of agroecological transition. However, further efforts are required for analyzing the sustainability performances of farms according to their level of agroecological transition. Finally, there is an urgent need to foster the dissemination of agroecological practices, which are yet poorly known by farmers.