In areas where horticulture at the urban-rural interface faces tensions due to agrochemical use, a cluster of agroecological production systems has emerged in General Pueyrredon (Buenos Aires, Argentina). These systems, with increasing commercial ambitions, represent an important shift towards more sustainable practices. To better understand their sustainability, a tailored assessment was conducted on a group of local farms, combining insights from MESMIS and the FAO’s TAPE framework.

This approach introduced a locally weighted analysis of the 10 elements of agroecology to reflect the specific socio-historical context. The findings revealed that while social dimensions such as knowledge exchange and solidarity economies are strengths, production-based elements like resilience and recycling remain areas for improvement. The results not only highlight the potential of these systems but also point to the need for further adjustments when applying this framework to different regions.

By focusing on locally relevant indicators, this study contributes to more precise evaluations of sustainable horticultural practices and informs policy-making that responds to urban-rural challenges. It underscores the importance of balancing social, economic, and ecological factors to foster resilient agri-food systems capable of adapting to evolving environmental pressures.