A methodological framework for assessing the agroecological performance of farms in Portugal: Integrating TAPE and ACT approaches

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.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.This research was funded by National Funds through the FCT—Foundation for Science and Technology, I.C.-P., within the scope of the individual doctoral research grant reference UI/BD/153087/2022.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Recognizing diversity to enable an agroecological transition: understanding the potential of family farmers in Portugal

The authors thank the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) for the financial support to the Research Centre for Natural Resources, Environment and Society — CERNAS (UIDB/00681) and GreenUPorto, supported by national funds via FCT under the Strategic Projects UIDB/05748/2020 and UIDP/05748/2020 (doi: 10.54499/UIDB/05748/2020 and doi: 10.54499/UIDP/05748/2020). We are also grateful to the GrowLIFE project (Grant Agreement No. 101074425, LIFE21-GIC-PT-GrowLIFE) for the opportunity to apply the methodology as part of its Work Package: Participatory Visits to Sustainable Farms, and to the PAGE Project (Ref: RR-C05-i03-I-000217) for the opportunity to implement the methodology within the scope of its initiatives.The agroecological transition of family farms in Portugal poses a significant challenge within the framework of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the European Green Deal. Despite their multifunctional contributions to rural territories, family farms—particularly smallholders—remain structurally disadvantaged by policy frameworks that continue to favor large-scale, high-input agricultural models. This study demonstrates that aligning family farming with agroecological principles yields tangible benefits and requires support through differentiated, typology-sensitive public policies. Using a tailored methodology, data were collected from 40 farms initially classified as conventional or agroecological. Ward’s hierarchical clustering, supported by complementary significance tests, identified three distinct farmer typologies: conventional, proto-agroecological, and agroecological. These typologies reflect meaningful differences in ecological integration, systemic thinking, and social engagement. The findings highlight the need for targeted policy frameworks that recognize farm diversity and promote multiple pathways toward agroecology. This typology-based approach provides an empirically grounded foundation for designing more inclusive and context-responsive institutional support for family farmers in Portugal.The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research and/or publication of this article. This research was funded by National Funds through the FCT-Foundation for Science and Technology, IC-P, within the scope of the individual doctoral research grant reference UI/BD/153087/2022.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio