Agroecological Living Labs as entry points for transition towards sustainable food systems: a novel framework for the evaluation of living labs at different scales

Agroecological transitions are vital for creating resilient and sustainable food systems, as they balance ecological processes with social dynamics. Stakeholder engagement and collective innovation are essential drivers of these transitions and Agroecological Living Labs (ALLs) have emerged as promising platforms for inclusive, multi-actor collaboration that foster co-creation and knowledge sharing. This study introduces the ME4ALL framework – a structured tool designed to help ALLs assess their activities and impacts, align their efforts with the 13 principles of agroecology, and support participants in reflecting on their strategies, evaluating interactions, and identifying areas for improvement. Focusing on three ALLs located in Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, our evaluation reveals that while ALL activities are linked to multiple agroecological principles, the degree of alignment is shaped more by national context than by scale. Notably, access to funding emerges as a scale-dependent factor, and political impacts – such as policy adjustments and enhanced dialogue with policymakers – are more pronounced at national and regional levels. By advancing our understanding of ALLs – their similarities, diversity and roles in agroecological transitions – this study offers both theoretical and practical contributions, providing a framework for comparing ALLs across local, regional and national scales.