Policy brief - EU agri-food policies need better indicators - Evidence from scientific literature and agroecology practioners

This policy brief examines whether the indicators used to design, monitor, and evaluate major EU policies adequately support the transition to agroecology. Drawing on evidence from scientific literature and agroecology practitioners across 11 living laboratories in 10 European countries, it compares policy indicators used under the Common Agricultural Policy, Climate Law, Nature Restoration Regulation, and Soil Monitoring Law with indicators considered relevant for assessing agroecological performance. The analysis reveals substantial mismatches in thematic coverage, indicator definitions, and scales of measurement, limiting the ability of current policies to capture key socio-economic, biodiversity, climate mitigation, and climate adaptation dimensions of agroecology. The brief proposes the addition of new indicators and revision of existing ones to strengthen evidence-based policymaking, improve transparency, and better support the expansion of agroecological farming systems in Europe.