Promoting agroecology means not only focusing on cultivated species and livestock but also accounting for wild biodiversity affected by farm management practices. During the EGU2024 event in Vienna, a key intervention presented an enhanced version of the "Tool for Agroecology Performance Evaluation" (TAPE), developed by FAO, which addresses this very challenge.

While TAPE has long served as a benchmark for evaluating agroecosystem sustainability through farm interviews and indices like soil and biodiversity, it previously overlooked unplanned biodiversity. To bridge this gap, the tool was expanded with a biodiversity index inspired by the European BioBio method. This innovative approach incorporates ten indicators—including field size, nitrogen use, and tree habitats—that act as biodiversity proxies without requiring extensive wildlife surveys.

Results shared at EGU2024 highlighted findings from Switzerland and Kenya. Swiss farms excelled in land use practices but had lower scores in nitrogen management and tree habitat presence. In Kenya, indicators for pesticide reduction and field operations showed strengths, while semi-natural habitats and grazing practices flagged areas for growth. These insights underscore the importance of adapting agroecological assessments to capture the full biodiversity picture and support data-driven policy improvements worldwide.