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IDEA4

IDEA4

The IDEA4 method is a diagnostic tool for assessing the sustainability of farms, based on 53 indicators. It is structured using a dual evaluative approach derived from its theoretical framework, which combines a twofold interpretation of sustainability: the three dimensions of sustainability and the five properties of sustainable agricultural systems. This dual approach represents a major innovation in the international landscape of sustainability assessment methods.

It helps identify pathways for progress toward greater sustainability in both individual and collective transition initiatives. The method is directly applicable and validated for assessing the sustainability of most agricultural production systems in mainland France and, more broadly, across Europe. This includes field crops and industrial crops, viticulture, arboriculture, market gardening, mixed crop-livestock systems, and ruminant and/or monogastric livestock farming.

The IDEA4 method is widely used in education, advisory services, and support for agroecological transition. It is also applied in public policy initiatives (such as GIEE, Ecophyto, and MAEC programs) and in research.

Learn more


The IDEA4 method: what is it for, who is it for, and what are its uses?

IDEA4 has three main purposes: teaching sustainability, supporting agroecological transitions, and evaluating them. The method and its tools address the following uses and needs:

  • Identify pathways for progress toward greater sustainability,
  • Enrich dialogue prior to any individual or territorial support initiative focused on the sustainability of agricultural transitions,
  • Step back to assess a farm, objectify a situation, or evaluate the sustainability of changes in practices,
  • Teach and train in sustainability assessment in agriculture,
  • Contribute to the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of public policies,
  • Compare and benchmark farms using data from the WEB-IDEA4 platform (the national observatory for farm sustainability),
  • Equip advisory and support initiatives (individual or collective) to assist farmers in reflecting on their production systems or tracking their agroecological transitions.
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IDEA4 is an intentionally transparent, open-access method equipped with three operational tools.
These three main tools support the implementation of an IDEA4 diagnostic. They are part of a transparent operational process (see the steps/tools diagram). All the tools and resources needed for its implementation are available free of charge on the method's website.

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The IDEA4 Book: The reference work, it presents the theoretical foundations and the structure of the method’s conceptual framework. It details each of the 53 indicators (calculation methods, recommendations, and bibliographic references) and also provides usage guidelines. Learn more

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The IDEA4 Calculator (Excel format): Hosting a printable survey document, the IDEA4 Calculator allows users to collect and organize farm data. It computes the 53 indicators and generates results for the dimensional approach (tables and simple graphs). It also enables the transfer of calculated indicator results to the WEB-IDEA platform. Learn more

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The WEB-IDEA Platform is developed by INRAE's ETTIS unit with support from the IDEA Scientific Committee. It provides users of the IDEA4 method with three key features:

  • Feature N°1: Generate and edit all sustainability results based on the data collected for a surveyed farm. The platform allows users to edit results for both sustainability approaches: the three dimensions of sustainable development and the five properties of sustainable agricultural systems (exclusive to the WEB-IDEA platform; the calculator does not provide these results).
  • Feature N°2: Generate and edit group analyses from multiple IDEA4 diagnostics. Ideal for supporting collectives such as GIEE (Ecological Intensification Groups).
  • Feature N°3: Provide access to benchmark data on the sustainability of farms, compiled from all IDEA4 diagnostics conducted. This data is designed to assist users in various applications (advisory, support, teaching, research, and studies) by offering broader results (from a larger sample) than those provided solely by the farms surveyed by the user.
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Example of Results:
A comprehensive overview using the 5 properties and 3 dimensions of sustainable development for a farm.

 The two figures below illustrate, for a farm, two types of results from the two approaches of the IDEA4 method. These results are generated by the WEB-IDEA platform using data provided by the calculator.

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The IDEA4 method was not designed to be used as a tool for monitoring or controlling sustainability. It is not an official certification tool (no sustainability certification method currently exists).
It does not replace the insights provided by individual advisory services or group support for farmers. Results from individual diagnostics or benchmark data should be analyzed in relation to the specific challenges of the territory, the farmer’s strategy, or the collective (see the usage guide).
The data available on the platform primarily comes from farmers who voluntarily participated in analyzing the sustainability of their farms.

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The IDEA4 method and its tools are accessible and usable under a free license.

Contact

The method was developed by an independent scientific committee whose composition changes over time.

Scientific advisors

  •         Frédéric Zahm (agro-économiste à INRAE- unité ETTIS, président du comité scientifique IDEA : frederic.zahm@inrae.fr
  •         Sydney Girard (agronome à INRAE- unité ETTIS) : sydney.girard@inrae.fr
     

Advisor for usage and training in agricultural technical education
Inês Rodriguez (chargée de mission à la Bergerie Nationale de Rambouillet) : ines.rodrigues@bergerie-nationale.fr

Advisor on usage and training in agricultural consulting and regional support
Clément Gestin, chargé de mission agriculture durable (association Centre Écodéveloppement de Villarceaux) : clement.gestin@bergerie-villarceaux.org

These four contacts are members of the scientific committee for the IDEA method.

See also

His book provides guidance with its 53 indicator sheets, downloaded free of charge.
Zahm F., Girard S., Alonso Ugaglia A., Barbier J.-M., Boureau H., Carayon D., Cohen S., Del’homme B., Gafsi M., Gasselin P., Gestin C., Guichard L., Loyce C., Manneville V., Redlingshöfer B. et Rodrigues I., 2023, La Méthode IDEA4 – Indicateurs de durabilité des exploitations agricoles. Principes & guide d’utilisation. Évaluer la durabilité de l’exploitation agricole, Éducagri éditions, 336 p., https://www.edued.fr/LS/IDEAV4

  • Zahm F, Ugaglia AA, Barbier J-M, Carayon D, Del ’ homme B, Gafsi M, Gasselin P, Gestin C, Girard S, Guichard L, Loyce C, Manneville V, Redlingshöfer B, Rodrigues I., 2024. Assessing farm sustainability: the IDEA4 method, a conceptual framework combining dimensions and properties of sustainability. Cah. Agric. 33 : 10, https://doi.org10.1051/cagri 703 2024001
  • Zahm F., Girard S., Rodrigues I., Alonso Ugaglia A., Gasselin P., Angot J., Buys C., Barbier J-M, Bockstaller C., Boureau H., Carayon C., Del’Homme B., Follet D., Fourest A., Gafsi M., Larbi X., Laxalde S., Manneville V., Peltier C., Saillard S., Viel J-A., 2024, Développement et validation d'une méthode d'évaluation de la durabilité des exploitations agricoles. IDEA4, ses outils et ses usages, Innovations Agronomiques, Innovations Agronomiques 94 (2024), 31-48 ; https://doi.org/10.17180/CIAG-2024-VOL94-ART03
  • Zahm F., Alonso Ugaglia A., Boureau H., Del’homme B., Barbier J.M., Gasselin P., Gafsi M., Guichard L., Loyce C., Manneville V., Menet A., Redlingshofer B., 2015, Agriculture et exploitation agricole durables : état de l’art et proposition de définitions revisitées à l’aune des valeurs, des propriétés et des frontières de la durabilité en agriculture, Innovations Agronomiques, 46, pp. 105-125

Modification date: 26 February 2026 | Publication date: 22 October 2025 | By: means