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A methodological framework for assessing the agroecological performance of farms in Portugal: Integrating TAPE and ACT approaches
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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Agroecology integrates science, social movements, and agricultural practices, playing a
central role in the sustainability of food systems. It addresses agroecosystems and food systems
holistically; however, defining whether a farm is agroecological remains a challenge. This article
proposes a methodology to measure farms’ agroecological performance, adapted to the family
farming context in Portugal. The aim of the developed methodology is to compare the agroecological
performance of family farms (conventional and non-conventional), providing information about
anchors for agroecological transition and supporting public policies. A literature review identified
existing farm evaluation methodologies, with Tool for Agroecological Performance Evaluation (TAPE)
and Agroecology Criteria Tool (ACT) scoring highest in an assessment process. Questions from
both were integrated into a questionnaire for family farmers. This field work provided critical
insights towards the methodologies: (1) territorial adaptability; (2) transition constraints’ origin; and
(3) use of non-academic language. The results were incorporated into the developed methodology,
which combines the TAPE indicator matrix and Gliessman’s five levels of food system change,
the latter of which provides the framework for the ACT. This study made it possible to identify
the most relevant aspects for characterizing family farmers/farms and the importance of how the
evaluation criteria/indicators are ordered by element/theme, as it alters the values of each farm’s
agroecological performance.
Description
We would like to thank CERNAS funded by national funds FCT—Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P., within the scope of the project Ref. UIDB/00681/2020, the GreenUPorto funded by national funds via FCT (Foundation for Science and Technology) through the Strategic Projects UIDB/05748/2020 and UIDP/05748/2020 and Valorizar a Agricultura Familiar Project (PDR2020-2024-058135) for the opportunity of applying the questionnaires within the scope of its research.
Keywords
Agroecology transition Family farms Territorial approaches Indicators for transition
Pedagogical Context
Citation
PEREIRA, Inês Costa [et al.] (2024) - A methodological framework for assessing the agroecological performance of farms in Portugal: Integrating TAPE and ACT approaches. Sustainability. N.º 16, 3955. DOI: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/10/3955
Publisher
MDPI