Global and local agri-food systems, including in Norway, face significant ecological, economic, and social sustainability challenges, necessitating a shift from the current "business as usual" approach. Understanding the contributions of various farming systems to sustainability is crucial, yet complex. This study evaluated the applicability of FAO's Tool for Agroecological Performance Evaluation (TAPE) on an organic dairy farm in Midwest Norway.

TAPE assesses farm performance based on agroecological principles and dimensions aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The farm excelled in economic efficiency but scored lower in diversity-related dimensions due to broader socio-economic and political contexts (the "supra-system"). This demonstrated TAPE's ability to highlight farm characteristics and link them to external influencing factors.

Key challenges included adapting TAPE’s indicators to Norway’s ecological and cultural conditions. However, when used as a flexible learning tool rather than a rigid framework, TAPE proved valuable in fostering participatory discussions on sustainable agricultural practices among farmers, policymakers, and stakeholders.