Agroecological Sustainability Assessment of Olive Farms in Semi-Arid Algeria as a Decision-Support Tool for Guiding Farmers Towards Agroecological Transition

Abstract

Climate change, soil degradation, groundwater depletion and the excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers are key stress factors for agricultural systems. In this context, farmers must adopt more sustainable farming models and manage natural resources more responsibly. Several tools have been developed to assess the sustainability of agricultural systems, based on predefined indicators. One of these is the Indicators of Farm Sustainability (IDEA) method, which evaluates sustainability through 42 indicators covering agroecological, socio-territorial, and economic dimensions. In this study, the IDEA method was used to assess the agroecological sustainability of 57 olive farms in the Djelfa region of Algeria. The results show an average agroecological score of 52.74 ± 10.29 out of 100. This reflects some good practices, such as limited pesticide and fertilizer use. However, improvements are needed in plot size and crop diversification. Farms integrating small ruminant livestock (sheep or goats) achieved better results (60.52/100) compared to those without (48.19/100), highlighting the value of diversification. This method can serve as a decision-support tool to help farmers identify areas for improvement and transition towards more sustainable agricultural practices.