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All EU Member States are obliged to monitor and evaluate the environmental, agricultural and socio-economic impacts of their agri-environmental programmes [Article 16, Regulation (EC) No. 746/96]. The evaluation process aims to determine the extent to which policy objectives are being fulfilled, and to identify any changes necessary to bridge the gap between policy aims and outcomes. However, there is little consensus on how to monitor and validate the benefits of agri-environmental schemes (AESs) successfully. Critically, there are no agreed methodologies for tracking the environmental consequences of changing agricultural practices, or the benefits of particular agri-environmental policy measures.
 AE-Footprint seeks to develop a common methodology and tools to assess the environmental performance of AESs and was funded in response to the EU Task 11 - Agri-Environment: Assessment of agri-environmental schemes with Rural Development as the second pillar of the Common Agricultural Policy.
The primary impact of this research will be the conceptual and practical development of a harmonised assessment system with which to assess the environmental performance of Europes AESs. The project will achieve this by:- developing, conceptually, a common index-based approach
- developing this concept into a practical (quantifiable) tool that will facilitate a direct measurement of the environmental impact of AE policy over time
 providing a framework for the assessment of potential outcomes of AES proposals- engaging local stakeholders in the decision-making process of customising and weighting the parameters used in the AFI at the regional level
- ensuring that the assessment tool that is developed will be sufficiently flexible to be responsive to changing local needs and, with use and further refinement, will have the potential to become an invaluable instrument with which policy makers can change priorities and set targets
- exploring the potential use of the developed tool as an instrument to assist in the refinement and improvement of existing policies and the development and formulation of new policies.
The following groups will be likely end-users of the AFI methodology:- policymakers at EU and national levels and those charged with the demonstration of value-for-money in agri-environmental incentive schemes and other RDR payments
- national and regional farming organisations, environmental NGOs and special interest groups
- agencies responsible for wider environmental monitoring and evaluation
- scientific groups involved in environmental research linked to agricultural landscapes.
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