Background: Agroecology has the potential to address food security and sustainability challenges in East Africa, but regional complexities require customized indicator frameworks that stakeholders, including smallholder farmers, extension services, local communities, policymakers, and agri-businesses, can easily adopt. However, many existing agroecological frameworks fail to integrate key aspects such as aquaculture and circular-water-energy systems. Specifically, seven of the nine reviewed frameworks do not include Integrated Aqua-Agriculture (IAA) metrics, creating a significant gap in agroecological assessments. Main Body: This review evaluates nine agroecological indicator frameworks for East Africa, focusing on their ability to monitor and support sustainable transitions in farming. These frameworks assess sustainability across economic, environmental, and social dimensions, considering resource efficiency, biodiversity, soil health, and profitability. Frameworks such as the Sustainable Intensification Assessment Framework, Tool for Agroecology Performance Evaluation (TAPE), and Sustainability Assessment of Food and Agriculture Systems (SAFA) are recognized for their multiscale approach and alignment with regional priorities. Conclusion: While existing frameworks support agroecological transitions, challenges such as complexity, data availability, and resource demands may limit their accessibility. Among the reviewed frameworks, TAPE and SAFA are most suited for East Africa. TAPE’s participatory approach and focus on biodiversity and soil management are ideal for smallholder contexts, while SAFA’s comprehensive approach can guide national policy development. Policymakers should consider integrating frameworks like TAPE and SAFA to ensure community participation and holistic sustainability assessment. Simplifying data collection and embracing evolving sustainability concepts will be essential for advancing more inclusive and resilient agroecological systems in East Africa.

The content of this paper presents the research results of a three-year research project in which a multi-criteria evaluation model (according to the DEX methodology) was developed for the evaluation of three different food sectors (represented by a cattle breeding chain, a pig farming chain, and a milk production chain) with added value in Slovenia. Indicators for the assessment of the economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable development of food chains were taken into account. The data for the analysis, such as prices and costs of food, wage levels by sector, food miles and others, were obtained from various public services between 2020 and 2023. The final qualitative assessment of the food sectors was uniform (“average”), while the longest analysis of the results using the plus-minus-1 analysis method showed the reasons for such an assessment in individual sectors (such as the ratio between the price of agricultural products and the price of agricultural inputs is poor, the ratio between average gross salary in the individual food sector and gross salary in the agricultural sector is poor, etc.). In addition to the results already mentioned, recommendations or suggestions for building a sustainable food chain were made using the results of the modelling. The research results contributed to a better understanding of the importance of stable relationships between different groups of indicators and later showed their importance for improving the functioning of agri-food chains. The results of the research will help various stakeholders (such as the agricultural advisory service, decision-makers at the level of agricultural policy, researchers in further analyses, and especially the international professional public interested in various case studies from EU countries) to further analyse and plan for the organisation of the agricultural sector.

Agroecology in East Africa is gaining momentum due to its potential benefits for food security, the environment, and climate, supported by research, policy, and economic drivers; meanwhile, Integrated Aqua-Agriculture, as one of the promising practices for agroecological transition, confronts challenges like infrastructure and expertise hurdles. The PrAEctiCe project addresses these by unveiling three distinct "Living Labs" in East Africa. In Kisumu (Kenya), the lab focuses on the synergy between aquaculture and intercropping, utilizing aquaculture wastewater for irrigation and converting aquaculture sludge into fertilizer. The Kajjansi (Uganda) lab delves into aquaponics, experimenting with varying combinations of fish and vegetables to optimize water, energy, and nutrient dynamics. In contrast, the Morogoro (Tanzania) lab integrates fish and poultry systems, utilizing fishpond wastewater for vegetable irrigation and combining aquaculture sludge with poultry manure to enrich the soil. Living Labs are designed following general agroecological principles adopted for aquaculture. By providing tangible demonstrations and fostering knowledge sharing, they contribute crucial data for the ongoing development of agroecology-tailored indicator framework for aquaculture and the decision support tool for smallholder farmers, with the goal of charting a promising agroecological path of African agriculture.

This research primarily aims to investigate the implementation measures of the New Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2023-2027 in Slovenia, focusing on preserving and restoring riparian zones along rivers. Agricultural landholders near watercourses are obligated by the Water Act with the GAEC 4 standard to establish riparian areas as protective strips, with precise widths of 15 meters for first-order watercourses, 5 meters for second-order watercourses, and 3 meters for drainage ditches exceeding 2 meters in width. These protective strips are limited to vegetation comprising grass, clovers, alfalfa, indigenous plants, shrubs, or trees, with strict prohibitions on organic and mineral fertilizer use and plant protection products. Slovenia has approximately 13 471 hectares of riparian land, mainly with intensive agricultural use. The most extensive cultivatable riparian areas along primary and secondary watercourses are predominantly found in Slovenia's northeastern and northwestern regions. The case study focuses on a farmer cultivating land in the riparian areas adjacent to the Sotla River. The Sotla River, located at Croatia's border, is classified as a first-order watercourse. For the case study, main crop yield reduction and land area loss in the New Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2023-2027 were calculated. On protective strips, the analyzed farm, which cultivates 104 hectares of land, experienced a loss of 6.4 hectares, which accounts for 6.2% of cultivated land, and the total loss of income on first- and second-order areas in 2023 amounts to 7 448,0 .

This study sets out to examine the effects of hedgerow shading on soil physical properties, specifically soil gravimetric water content and soil temperature. Analyses of both soil parameters were conducted at two locations with different shade proportion. The aim of the study was to address the links between hedgerow shading and basic physical soil properties which could be significant both for agricultural production and for ecological processes in agroecosystems. At both locations, soil samples and measurements were taken at different distances from hedgerow and in different time intervals. Diurnal shading variation at certain distances from the hedgerow on Location 1 and 2 was calculated with the software toll for Arboriculturists. At Location 1 shading is consistently high throughout the year, ranging from 76 to 100%. In contrast, shading at Location 2 varies from 1 to 25%. The results reveal that hedgerows at Location 1, do not have a statistically significant impact on gravimetric soil water content and soil temperature across the entire plot surface. Additionally, the percentage of shading is only marginally decreases with distance. Conversely, Location 2 exhibits an increase in soil temperature and a slight but (non-significant) decrease in soil gravimetric watercontent as the distance from the hedgerow increases., The total mean shading at Location 2 is considerably lower compared to Location 1, and the shading percentage declines more at the distance from the hedgerow increases. Overall, lower soil temperatures and higher gravimetric soil water content where observed at the more shaded Location 1. The research outcomes are helpful in agricultural production planning as well as in the evaluation of hedgerows for the needs of agricultural policy.

The paper present a multi-criteria decision DEXi model for assessment of less favoured areas (LFAs). The tool enables easier assessment of farming in different areas of Slovene LFAs with respect to criteria of sustainability. Analysis of LFAs and final integration of the assessment of LFAs depend upon various criteria. In this paper we analyze individual LFAs and farming systems in these areas at the state level with respect to criteria of sustainability and farming potential.

The process of globalization had a large impact on the market of agricultural and food products by making it saturated with new products that compete with each other in price and quality. In such global circumstances, the indigenous products cannot cope with the fierce competition, and the buyers cannot be sure of the quality of what they are buying, resulting in the need to protect indigenous products. The aim of this paper is to point out the importance of creating a label and its protection as an intellectual property. The paper identifies and displays the marks of authenticity and quality in the Republic of Croatia and on the territory of the European Union, and it provides Croatian examples of origin protection. For the purpose of this work and in relation to the recognition of quality and authenticity in everyday use a survey was conducted among sixty-eight respondents who chose to make their purchases within a retail chains, thirty one respondents who chose a family farm based market, and twenty-two which chose small family farms. Research has shown that there are differences between individual age groups and their preferences when purchasing at retail chains or from family farm based markets. In addition, customers focus on the quality and price when purchasing products, but they inadequately recognize the quality of products by observing markings of origin and of quality.

In the literature the value based food chains express two main characteristics: business relationships among strategic partners interacting in the supply chain are based on a written set of values and food products are differentiated from similar food products (Stevenson, 2009). To verify the first part of the definition the analysis of two organic food chains were carried out. For the analysis of business relationships and food quality communication in the food chain two different methodological approaches were used. For collecting the input data semi-structured interviews of various stakeholders were performed. The results of the analyzed case studies show the characteristics of value based food chains could be broader and more complex if some additional perspectives were considered.

The attention of this paper is drawn to analyze the economic potential of involvement of farmers into the small-medium sized value-based food chain (VBFC).The survey represents a solid data basis from which econometric modelling approach was further developed.Empirical results reveal the positive economic viability on a general level; this means more stable purchase price of raw milk for dairy farms, which are the part of value-based food chain.Results point at inelastic demand for milk and milk related products.Furthermore, there are some accompanying and underlying indirect social benefits, such as production of high-quality food products, more stable and constant demand for raw milk, steady payments and better social situation.The last one is especially important for the farms operating in less-favored mountain areas where the survey was actually conducted.

Modernization of specific types of farming has resulted in stronger competition between Slovenia and other European countries in the agricultural market, and it has been a key factor in depopulation of the countryside. The multi-criteria decision DEX model for assessment of less favored areas (LFAs) is presented. The tool enables easier assessment of farming in different areas of Slovene LFAs. Analysis of LFAs and final integration of the assessment of LFAs depend upon various criteria. The model consists of five main attributes. According to the model, the mountain areas were defined as “excellent” in the final assessments. Other areas and hill areas were described as “appropriate,” and the karst areas and the steep slopes received the lowest assessment. The multi-criteria decision DEX model may be used in the further development of agricultural policy.

The “Ekodar” organic beef label was established in 2009 by the Saleska Valley agricultural cooperative. Currently, 76 producers/farmers label their products with the Ekodar brand, which speaks to a onnection of trust between consumers. The meat is available in eleven large producers and retailers, such as Mercator, two organic shops, two agricultural co’ops, as well as online, and delivery is available in twelve cities throughout Slovenia. Marketing and distribution is done via the central umbrella of the Saleska Valley (owner of the brand) agricultural cooperative. The special characteristic f the “Ekodar” brand is its QR code, which allows consumers to trace the origins of their meat. In using a smart phone to scan QR codes on packaging before purchase, consumers can receive full information about their meat’s farm location, the size of the farm, and the size of the cattle herd on the farm. The main (key) actor of the brand, the Saleska Valley agricultural cooperative, usually describes the business logic of the food chain before inviting new actors to cooperate. Internally, business plans have been questioned, especially during the first two years of the Ekodar brand’s existence, as there were difficulties involved in promoting it on the market (i.e., they were selling organic beef under the conventional price). Strategic decisions are usually made by the Saleska Valley agricultural cooperative. The company’s board is mainly concerned with the economic matters. We did not witness internal or external criticisms of the company’s modes of management and governance.

Our working group discussed hampering and enabling factors for the management of increasing quantities of organic food produce. Andrea Borec from Maribor University presented the main idea of the Core Organic II Project HealthyGrowth. Susanne von Munchhausen from Eberswalde University, Germany, showed first results of the case study analysis in respect to management issues during expansion. During the discussion, the workshop focused on the development of two Slovenian farmers’ cooperatives. Representatives from the Ekodar label for organic beef and from Planika Dairy highlighted business strategies and the specific challenges the businesses were and are currently facing.

Value based food chains (VBFC) are characterized trough different type of quality values, often expressed simply as supporting the small scale farmers, improving the farms socio-economic situations and recognized mostly on local or regional level. Further VBFC maximize the social and economic output values for individual chain actors with positive direct and indirect returns to the local economy. If the VBFC wish to expand growth and at the same time maintain the values, the growth has to be sustainable in an economic, social and environmental way. For measuring sustainable growth of VBFC we used three type of food chain features: i) quality differentiation, ii) volume and iii) economic performance. In this paper the analysis of two different VBFC from Slovenian organic sector is presented. For analyzing both case studies a qualitative method for balancing between indicators of each feature was used. The results shown how the quality differentiation, volume and economic performance of each analyzed VBFC are balanced and how/and if they are directed towards sustainable growth. The results are showing that the difference between analyzed VBFC towards sustainable growth exist and the noted obstructions are detected mostly in economic performance of food chain.

The aim of this paper is to present the basic characteristics of linear programing (LP) and weighted goal programming (WGP) to optimize processes on farms. Characteristics of both mathematical techniques are presented through the development of the crop planning model for solving some objective problems: maximizing financial results and minimizing different production costs on agricultural holdings. The model is structured from two sub-models, where the first based on linear programming and the second based on weighted goal programming are supported with penalty functions. The authors dispatch the weaknesses of LP with the application of WGP in the model and support this statement with results in this paper. The model was tested and validated on crop rotation with combinations of different field and vegetable crops in two different scenarios (WGP(SC1) and WGP(SC2)) on a real agricultural holding in Slovenia. The results show that WGP combines more suitable crop rotation from an economic perspective than LP and provides a better solution for diversified and economically feasible crops that are included in the crop rotation. LP gives completely unacceptable results from the aspect of underachievement (for more than 100 %) of the maximum cropping area on a farm, while WGP completely satisfies all goals. From the obtained results in this paper, the authors identify several weaknesses of LP and present how it could be removed by applying the WGP technique.

AbstractA multi-criteria model for a qualitative assessment of the production and marketing of local food products (LFP) from mountain areas has been developed by applying the DEX method. The development of the model was carried out and finally applied to ten local food products. The results were given in the form of a qualitative final assessment of both the production and marketing phases. By applying a plus–minus-1 analysis, the influence of various attributes on the final assessment of the LFP was examined. The main bottlenecks in the production and marketing processes were found. A sensitivity test was used to explain the influence of production and marketing on the final assessment. The results give clear directions as to which of the main attributes must be changed/improved or further developed to enable the successful promotion of local food products, which would give rise to an improved economy in mountain areas.