Assessing Agroecological Performance across five Moroccan Regions using The Tool for Agroecology Performance Evaluation and the Main Agroecological Structure Index

Abstract

Agroecology is increasingly promoted as a pathway for strengthening the sustainability and resilience of farming systems affected by climate change, water scarcity, and land degradation. In Morocco, however, empirical assessments of agroecological performance remain limited, particularly those combining farm-level practices with landscape-level ecological structure. This study assessed agroecological performance across five Moroccan regions—Beni Mellal-Khénifra, Casablanca-Settat, Fès-Meknès, Rabat-Salé-Kénitra, and Souss-Massa—using two complementary tools: the Tool for Agroecology Performance Evaluation (TAPE) and the Main Agroecological Structure (MAS) index. A total of 199 farms were surveyed between December 2025 and February 2026. Data were collected through structured questionnaires, field observations, and spatial analysis of farm surroundings. TAPE was used to evaluate farm-level agroecological practices, including diversity, efficiency, recycling, resilience, governance, culture and food traditions, and human and social values. MAS was used to assess ecological structure through biocenotic and cultural indicators, including ecological connectors, landscape diversity, soil conservation, agroecological management practices, certification, productive autonomy, and commercial autonomy. Results showed that overall agroecological performance remained low. TAPE scores ranged from 20.7% to 47.9%, with a mean of 27.7% ± 5.5%, indicating partial and uneven alignment with agroecological principles. Significant regional differences were observed, with Fès-Meknès and Beni Mellal-Khénifra recording the highest TAPE scores, Souss-Massa showing intermediate performance, and Rabat-Salé-Kénitra and Casablanca-Settat recording the lowest scores. TAPE performance was strongest for culture and food traditions, diversity, efficiency, and human and social values, whereas circular economy, co-creation of knowledge, responsible governance, and resilience were the weakest dimensions. MAS scores also differed significantly among regions and farm-size classes, with higher values observed in larger farms and in Fès-Meknès. A strong positive association was found between TAPE and MAS scores, with Pearson’s correlation of r = 0.874 and Spearman’s correlation of ρ = 0.864, indicating that farms with stronger farm-level agroecological performance also tended to present stronger landscape-level agroecological structure. These findings highlight the value of combining TAPE and MAS to diagnose agroecological transition at both farm and landscape levels. Morocco’s agroecological transition requires integrated support for farm diversification, ecological connectivity, farmer organization, participatory knowledge exchange, and territorial governance.