About the Project

TAPELINE is a European project helping farmers, researchers, and communities move towards agroecology a way of farming that works with nature, not against it. Agroecology combines ecological knowledge with farming practices, making food systems more resilient, sustainable, and fair. TAPELINE plans to adapt and test the FAO’s TAPE tool across five different contexts in five European countries (Belgium, Switzerland, Cyprus, Germany, and Italy) to measure and support agroecological transitions. This tool looks not only at crops and soil, but also at the social, cultural, and economic aspects of farming. Our goal is clear:

  • Empower farmers and communities through training, mentoring, and co-learning workshops.

  • Develop local roadmaps and strategies for sustainable food systems that respond to real territorial needs.

  • Create replicable models so that other regions across Europe can follow.

  • Establish an Agroecological Living Lab in Cyprus’ Troodos Mountains, a hub for innovation and collaboration.

  • Track long-term progress with a new interactive dashboard.

  • FAO is an “associate partner” of the project

Behind TAPELINE is a consortium of 8 partners from universities, NGOs, and community groups, all working together to bring science, practice, and policy closer. By connecting local innovation with European cooperation, TAPELINE is helping to build farming systems that respect the planet and reward the people who feed us.

Why TAPELINE?

Current food systems often operate within fragmented, input-intensive models that underdeliver on climate resilience, biodiversity, and rural vitality. While AE principles provide a robust, ecologically sound alternative, their implementation at scale is hindered by limited tools for evaluation and systemic planning. TAPELINE bridges this divide by adapting the FAO TAPE tool for the European context, enabling territories to diagnose, plan, and monitor their agroecological transition.

Expected Outcomes

  • Adapted European TAPELine TAPE tool (make sure to includie a link in the future to the document explaining how it was adapted and what it looks like) 
  • Assessment of a sample of 100 farms in five different contexts in five European countries using the adapted TAPELINE TAPE tool. Results on their contexts, the level of advancement in their agroecological transition and their level of performance. This will serve as a basis, a diagnosis for the development of territorial strategies.  

Enhanced knowledge on agroecological practices and their socio-economic impacts 

An assessment at the landscape scale of the surrounding agroecosystems, value chains, actors, and ecosystem services will be conducted, followed by a survey of 30-50 farms representing their local diversity across five territories. This assessment will utilize the TAPE tool and participatory approaches.

Development of replicable territorial strategies for agroecological transition, including guidelines for using the L-I-N-E (Learning, Implementing-Networking and strategizing-Enrolling) pathway.

Strengthened resilience of farming systems against climate change and economic shocks, backed by tailored agroecological strategies.

Localised strategies for agroecological transition tailored for deploying agroecological practices in agrifood systems across five territories, addressing local challenges and opportunities. 

Establishment of an Agroecological Living Lab serving as an innovation hub in Cyprus.

Empowerment of local communities and farmers through active participation, mentoring programs, online training, and Multi-Actors Platforms (MAPs).

Introduction of an innovative dashboard to monitor agroecological interventions and track long-term impact.

What We Deliver

TAPELINE will produce:

An upgraded, landscape-oriented version of the TAPE tool

AE performance dashboards and data visualization tools

Strategic territorial transition roadmaps

Co-created interventions and governance pilots

A Living Lab in Cyprus as a flagship site for experimentation and demonstration

Digital training materials and guidelines for replication

These deliverables serve as both scientific contributions & practical tools for farmers, researchers, policy actors, & civil societ

Our Vision

TAPELINE envisions a regenerative agroecological Europe rooted in local knowledge, evidence-based strategies, and policy integration. We aim not merely to reduce environmental harm, but to co-create thriving landscapes that deliver food security, climate adaptation, economic resilience, and social equity.

Target Groups

Farmers & rural communities

Researchers & higher education networks

Policymakers at EU & national levels

NGOs &local development actors

Environmental & food justice advocates

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