Agroecological performance of smallholder dairy cattle systems in the Peruvian Amazon

In Peru, silvopastoral systems have been included as a national measure to address deforestation and mitigate carbon emissions. Limited studies have assessed the sustainability of mixed livestock-crop systems using tools that address multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). We assessed the sustainability of smallholder dairy farms in the Peruvian Amazon as affected by system type (silvopastoral or conventional) and herd size (medium or large) using the Tool for Agroecological Performance Evaluation (TAPE). Furthermore, we explored the linkages among TAPE indicators including the 10 Elements of Agroecology (EA), an overall evaluation scale (Characterization of Agroecological Transition; CAET), and 11 SDG-linked Core Criteria of Performance (CCP). Twenty-two farmers of the San Martin region were surveyed. Data were subjected to analysis of variance, Pearson correlations, and fitted to linear and quadratic functions. Silvopastoral systems showed a greater agroecological transition than conventional systems (69.0 vs. 60.2; CAET mean) regardless of herd size. Results suggested that EA and CCP were essentially independent of each other if linearity was assumed. However, concave quadratic relationships were detected between the CAET and 4 CCP: Farm Income , Agricultural Net Income, Dietary Diversity, and Women's Empowerment . For these CCP, depressed values for farms with intermediate CAET (60 to 69) suggested that they neither reap the full benefits of agroecological practices found mainly in silvopastoral farms (CAET >70) nor the full benefits of conventional practices (CAET <60) . The implementation of agroecological practices in smallholder systems may support positive economic and social sustainability outcomes. • The Tool for Agroecological Performance Evaluation was used on 22 smallholder farms in the Peruvian Amazon. • Silvopastoral systems are more agroecological than conventional systems, regardless of herd size. • There were only two correlations among the 10 Elements of Agroecology and the 11 SDG-linked indicators of the tool. • Four SDG-linked indicators showed a quadratic effect with the level of agroecological transition. • Agroecological practices may support both economic and social sustainability outcomes.