Metrics Meta-framework guide. Guidance for developing holistic assessments of agrifood systems: A 10-step approach

TI  - Metrics Meta-framework guide. Guidance for developing holistic assessments of agrifood systems: A 10-step approach 
AU  - Crossland, M. 
AU  - Coe, R. 
AU  - Adoyo, B. 
AU  - Anyango, E. 
AU  - Darmaun, M. 
AU  - Geck, M. 
AU  - Kumar, S. 
AU  - Kuria, A. 
AB  - There is increasing recognition that we need to measure food and agriculture (agrifood) systems’ performance holistically, including social, environmental and economic aspects. As a result, hundreds of frameworks and tools have been developed, each one for a particular purpose (Crossland et al. 2025). Choosing between the hundreds of available frameworks and tools can be overwhelming, yet it is also likely that none of these assessment approaches will perfectly meet all your specific needs. There is no one tool that will be appropriate for everyone, everywhere. The TRANSITIONS Metrics project developed the Metrics Meta-framework (Box 1) to help you navigate through this diversity of available frameworks and tools and help you design a holistic assessment of agrifood systems that is fit for your specific purposes and needs. The Meta-framework presented in this guide takes you through a 10-step process to design such an assessment tool. If you follow the 10-step process presented in this guide, you will end up with a practical method for a holistic agrifood system assessment that meets clear objectives and user needs. It might be a simple implementation of a standard tool. It might be a modified version of an already existing tool. Or, it might be a completely new and original assessment tool.
The reflection checklists summarize ten key tools to help you select a tool appropriate to your needs. Included are descriptions of the uses of each tool,
reflections using the ten steps of the Meta framework, descriptions of the tool’s adaptability, and key resources for further information. 
PY  - 2026 
PB  - CIFOR and ICRAF, operated as Landscape Alliance 
PP  - Bogor, Indonesia and Nairobi, Kenya 
UR  - https://www.cifor-icraf.org/knowledge/publication/47369/ 
KW  - agrifood, agroecology, assessment, decision making, evaluation, food security, food systems, monitoring, sustainable agriculture 
ER  -