This article discusses the collaborative efforts of Agroecology Europe and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to enhance the assessment of agroecological practices. On January 10, 2025, during the Oxford Real Farming Conference, they co-organized a workshop to present and discuss their respective assessment tools: OASIS and TAPE.

Agroecology Europe introduced the OASIS tool, designed to support the transition towards agroecology by evaluating farms based on 13 agroecological principles. This tool aims to provide farmers with insights into their current practices and potential areas for improvement. FAO presented the Tool for Agroecology Performance Evaluation (TAPE), which assesses the level of agroecological transition and the multidimensional performance of households. TAPE employs a four-step process: contextual description, characterization of agroecological transition, multidimensional sustainability evaluation, and participatory analysis of results.

The workshop facilitated discussions on how these tools and the data they generate can address key challenges in advancing agroecology. Participants emphasized the importance of user-friendly, visual tools with clear benchmarks to aid decision-makers and promote peer-to-peer learning. They also highlighted the need for training advisors in agroecology and financially supporting advisory services. Additionally, the significance of education in encouraging voluntary practice changes among farmers was underscored. The discussions concluded that collected data should demonstrate the success of agroecological practices, support policy evaluation, and avoid the commodification of nature. Furthermore, developing specific indicators for assessing elements of the One Health approach, particularly food quality and nutrition density, was recommended. Engaging policymakers through farm visits and holistic data presentation was also deemed crucial.

Agroecology Europe, FAO, and other organizations committed to ongoing collaboration to refine these assessment tools and collectively advance the agroecological transition.