Grassland-Based Farming Systems Targeting Agroecology: Which Indicators Should Be Used for On-Farm Assessment?

Elena Benedetti del Rio (), Audrey Michaud, Gilles Brunschwig and Enrico Sturaro
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Elena Benedetti del Rio: Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment, University of Padova, Viale dell’Università, 16, 35020 Legnaro, Italy
Audrey Michaud: INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR Herbivores, Université Clermont-Auvergne, 63122 Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France
Gilles Brunschwig: INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR Herbivores, Université Clermont-Auvergne, 63122 Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France
Enrico Sturaro: Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment, University of Padova, Viale dell’Università, 16, 35020 Legnaro, Italy

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 6, 1-13

Abstract: This study investigates grassland-based farming systems within the framework of agroecology (AE), focusing on the identification of relevant indicators for on-farm assessment. The purpose of this research is to test indicator compliance with AE at the farming system level in grassland farms, particularly in High-Nature-Value (HNV) areas. Seventeen farms in France and Italy were selected for this study, and data were collected through semi-structured interviews. These interviews explored various indicators across environmental, economic, and social dimensions. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was employed to analyze the quantitative indicators, while qualitative data offered insights into farm management and learning practices. The results highlighted the importance of forage self-sufficiency (livestock production dimension) and revenue (economic dimension) as key indicators of successful agroecological management. The study also found that increasing forage self-sufficiency was linked to higher farmer satisfaction, an indicator related to the social dimension. Additionally, qualitative data underscored the significance of self-sufficiency, workload management, and social interaction and continuous learning as critical elements in grassland-based farming. In conclusion, this research proposes self-sufficiency as an indicator that can facilitate the assessment of grassland-based systems, aiding in the broader adoption of agroecological practices in compliance with European policies.

Keywords: agroecology; indicator; grassland-based farming systems; assessment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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