Agroecology has emerged as a key approach for enabling such transformation. However, a significant challenge to scaling agroecology lies in the difficulty of measuring its performance in ways that allow for fair comparisons with alternatives. Common approaches to evaluating agrifood systems often fail to account for the multifunctionality of agrifood systems, overlooking the environmental and social benefits of agroecology and the negative externalities of conventionally intensified systems. Given this context, a more holistic and inclusive approach to measurement is needed to ensure that policymakers, donors, development actors, and farmers can make informed decisions about investing in agroecology or alternative agricultural systems.

This study highlights the need for more holistic approaches to measuring agrifood system performance in order to fairly assess agroecology alongside alternative approaches. Drawing on reviews, interviews, and workshops held in Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Tunisia, it identifies barriers and opportunities for measuring and advancing agroecological transitions. Key findings stress the need for harmonized yet context-sensitive metrics, stronger capacity and guidance, and attention to often-overlooked social dimensions such as equity and agency. The study calls for greater coordination among governments, researchers, NGOs, and funders, as well as more strategic investments, to ensure that agroecology can play its full role in transforming food systems towards resilience, sustainability, and inclusivity.