Agroforestry systems represent a promising agricultural alternative, offering numerous ecological and economic benefits. However, these systems are complex agroecological models due to their perennial nature and multi-production characteristics. They therefore require significant design efforts, and it is challenging for farmers to evaluate their overall performance before implementation.

To address this issue, the DEXiAF tool was developed. Freely accessible and co-designed by INRAE, GRAB, and UniLaSalle, this innovative tool enables a qualitative assessment of the sustainability of agroforestry system prototypes prior to their establishment. Based on DEXi technology, DEXiAF integrates expert knowledge and multiple references, including methods such as MASC, INDIGO, and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).

The user provides information on 87 criteria that describe the farm’s context as well as aspects such as marketing methods, biodiversity, water management, layout, and societal impact. The DEXiAF model then aggregates the entered data using predefined rules to generate an overall sustainability score.

This tool adopts a holistic approach, encouraging agroforestry project leaders to consider the three dimensions of sustainability—environmental, economic, and social—during the design phase.

In addition to calculating prototype performance, DEXiAF generates a dashboard to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the agroforestry system prototypes being evaluated. By comparing prototypes, it assists in decisions regarding design, management, and valorisation. Finally, DEXiAF offers significant educational potential, raising awareness about sustainability and agroforestry—a promising agricultural alternative that provides farmers with numerous ecological and economic benefits. It is user-friendly and time-efficient for farmers.