The framework

Take a closer look at the components of the Global Farm Metric framework.

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Framework development

Collaboration, trials and research have shaped the evolution of the GFM.

It is informed by over a decade of research, expert consultation and development, building scientific credibility and rigour. Over the past three years, over 75 farm assessments and 1,700 sustainability indicators have been analysed by GFM researchers, including a Delphi review on biodiversity indicators.

To date, the framework has been tested on over 500 farms across 23 countries to improve its usefulness, practicality and adaptability for all farming systems.

  • While underlying principles remain unchanged, developments focus on structural and conceptual refinements to be clearer, more practical and easier to use.
  • The framework now offers a stronger focus on outcomes, better alignment with global frameworks, and improved flexibility for different farm types and regions.
  • These updates make it easier for farmers and stakeholders to measure what matters, compare progress and drive joined-up action across the food system.

Image: Malaysia, Borneo trial farm (2024)

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Structure

The framework breaks the key parts of a farming system down into measurable areas to provide a holistic picture across social, economic and environmental dimensions. It starts with high-level categories and outcomes, then breaks these down into subcategories and properties. Shared indicators are used to measure progress towards the desired outcomes. It recognises that all outcomes are shaped by contextual factors.

  • Context: The framework recognises factors beyond a farmer’s control – like climate, geography, soil, market access, policy, infrastructure, labour and land-use history – that shape a farm’s ability to deliver sustainable outcomes. Change isn’t the responsibility of farmers alone.
  • Categories: 12 interconnected categories represent key parts of the farm system where sustainability impacts occur. They span environmental, social and economic dimensions – none can be considered in isolation.
  • Outcomes: Each category defines an outcome – a shared goal or vision – for all stakeholders and farming systems to work towards. They complement local priorities and serve as a guiding star – not a rule book.
  • Subcategories: Break categories down into key areas that influence the delivery of shared outcomes.
  • Properties: Describe the specific features and pressures within each subcategory for assessing performance, risks and progress – linking broad categories to measurable indicators.
  • Indicators: Measurable proxies that help us observe complex outcomes. They provide evidence about a condition, progress or outcome to understand the sustainability of a farm system. They’re not a rigid checklist but a starting point for alignment.
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Governance
Roles and responsibilities
Decision making processes
Monitoring and planning
Air and Climate
Greenhouse gas emissions
Carbon stocks
Pollutants
Soil
Structure 
Chemistry 
Pollutants 
Water
Usage
Availability
Pollutants 
Biodiversity
Species composition
Distribution and abundance
Species condition
Ecosystem function
Land Use
Composition
Configuration of features 
Condition of features 
Crops and Pasture
Plant health 
Productivity
Loss and waste
Product quality 
Livestock
Health 
Mortality
Wellbeing
Productivity
Loss and waste
Product quality
Farmers and Workers
Health
Wellbeing
Working conditions
Community
Employment
Knowledge and skills exchange
Cultural assets and activities
Resource sharing
Place-based farming production
Agricultural supplies
Sourcing and characteristics
Usage and dependency
Lifespan and maintenance
Waste and circularity
Economics
Financial performance
Financial resilience
Financial independence
Investment and adaptive capacity
Governance
Air and Climate
Soil
Water
Biodiversity
Land Use
Crops and Pasture
Livestock
Farmers and Workers
Community
Agricultural supplies
Economics

The wheel

Explore the categories and subcategories of the latest iteration of the framework, GFM2.0.

EconomicsAir and Climate

Governance

Outcome: Farm governance is equitable, inclusive and respects traditional knowledge. Decision-making – whether formal or informal, hierarchical or cooperative – prioritises transparency, fairness and shared responsibility,empowering all stakeholders. Social, economica and environmental risks and conflicts are monitored and resolved meaningfully, with long-term strategic thinking embedded to build resilience for the future of the farm and future generations.

SUBCATEGORIES AND PROPERTIES:

Roles and responsibilities

Representation and equity in roles
Role clarity and organisational structure
Distribution of responsibilities

Decision making processes

Decision accountability
Participation and inclusion in decision making
Decision transparency
Decision-making autonomy
Access to conflict resolution
Responsiveness to risks and conflicts

Monitoring and planning

System monitoring coverage
Knowledge quality and diversity
Planning horizon and stewardship

GovernanceSoil

Air and Climate

Outcome: Greenhouse gas emissions are minimal and carbon removal is maximised, contributing towards climate change mitigation efforts. Air is good quality and free of pollutants, supporting the health of people, livestock and the environment.

SUBCATEGORIES AND PROPERTIES:

Greenhouse gas emissions

Total greenhouse gas emissions
Greenhouse gas emissions intensity per product
Greenhouse gas emission sources

Carbon stocks

Soil carbon storage
Biomass carbon storage

Pollutants

Particulate emissions
Reactive gas emissions
Local disturbance

Air and ClimateWater

Soil

Outcome: Soils have healthy structure, fertility and biological function, supporting water storage, nutrient cycling, resilient plant growth and productive agriculture. They are protected from pollution and erosion, contributing to biodiversity, carbon storage, flood regulation, clean water and the long-term production of food, fuel and fibre.

SUBCATEGORIES AND PROPERTIES:

Structure 

Soil aggregate structure
Soil packing
Air and water movement pathways
Soil water storage capacity
Soil surface

Chemistry 

Soil acidity vs alkalinity
Available nutrients
Nutrient retention capacity
Nutrient reserves

Pollutants 

Nutrient surplus
Heavy metal and metalloid contamination
Synthetic chemical contamination
Physical contamination
Biological contamination

SoilBiodiversity

Water

Outcome: Water is sourced sustainably and used efficiently to support productive, resilient farming while protecting local water resources. Water on and around the farm is abundant and free from harmful pollution, supporting biodiversity, healthy aquatic ecosystems and downstream water quality.

SUBCATEGORIES AND PROPERTIES:

Usage

Water withdrawal
Water use efficiency
Water losses

Availability

Water supply reliability

Pollutants 

Nutrient pollution
Heavy metal and metalloid contamination
Synthetic chemical contamination
Physical contamination
Biological contamination

WaterLand Use

Biodiversity

Outcome: Biodiversity is rich in both abundance and genetic diversity. From micro- to macro-organisms, across wild, domesticated and cultivated species, life thrives in healthy and resilient habitats and ecosystems.

SUBCATEGORIES AND PROPERTIES:

Species composition

Species richness
Species rarity
Genetic diversity

Distribution and abundance

Species abundance
Species spatial distribution

Species condition

Wildlife health

Ecosystem function

Ecosystem roles

BiodiversityCrops and Pasture

Land Use

Outcome: Land is used and connected in ways that support productive farming, healthy habitats and resilient ecosystems. Infrastructure is reliable, efficient and designed to meet current and future needs while minimising resource use and waste.

SUBCATEGORIES AND PROPERTIES:

Composition

Land use and feature diversity
Land use area distribution

Configuration of features 

Connectivity of natural features

Condition of features 

Infrastructure condition
Sustainability of infrastructure

Land UseLivestock

Crops and Pasture

Outcome: Crops and pasture are healthy, productive and resilient, producing consistent yields of safe, nutritious and high-quality products with minimal losses and waste.

SUBCATEGORIES AND PROPERTIES:

Plant health 

Plant pests and disease
Plant growth
Root function

Productivity

Crop and pasture output

Loss and waste

Pre-harvest losses
Post-harvest losses

Product quality 

Food safety
Nutritional quality
Physical quality

Crops and PastureFarmers and Workers

Livestock

Outcome: Farmed and working animals are healthy, resilient, have high welfare and able to express natural behaviours. There is consistent production of safe, nutritious and high-quality products with minimal loss and waste.

SUBCATEGORIES AND PROPERTIES:

Health 

Livestock disease
Livestock injury
Physiological condition

Mortality

Livestock mortality

Wellbeing

Behavioural expression
Stress levels
Resting behaviour

Productivity

Livestock output

Loss and waste

Livestock on-farm product loss

Product quality

Food safety
Nutritional quality
Physical quality

LivestockCommunity

Farmers and Workers

Outcome: Farmers and workers are healthy, safe and treated fairly, with good wellbeing, rewarding work and opportunities to learn, contribute and develop. They are valued, fairly rewarded and supported to thrive as part of a resilient farm system.

SUBCATEGORIES AND PROPERTIES:

Health

Worker safety
Worker physical illness

Wellbeing

Mental wellbeing
Social support

Working conditions

Recognition and voice
Work role satisfaction
Worker enablement (resource access)
Worker capability development
Application of knowledge
Purpose alignment
Remuneration
Employment stability
Autonomy and belonging

Farmers and WorkersAgricultural supplies

Community

Outcome: Farms build strong, mutually beneficial relationships for resilient, thriving communities. Fair employment, knowledge exchange, cultural stewardship, resource sharing and production supports local needs and economies.

SUBCATEGORIES AND PROPERTIES:

Employment

Employment opportunities
Equality of opportunities

Knowledge and skills exchange

Farm knowledge sharing to community
Community participation in knowledge sharing
Knowledge gained by the community
Farm participation in community knowledge sharing

Cultural assets and activities

Preservation of cultural assets and activities
Engagement with cultural assets and activities

Resource sharing

Farm resources shared with the community
Equity of access to shared resources
Community resources used by the farm
Farm benefit from resource sharing
Community benefit from resource sharing

Place-based farming production

Contribution to local markets
Use of locally adapted breeds and varieties
Alignment with local demand
Local value addition and processing

CommunityEconomics

Agricultural supplies

Outcome: Agricultural supplies, including agricultural inputs, materials and equipment, are sustainably sourced and used efficiently. Inputs pose no risk and cause no harm to environmental or human health. Equipment is well maintained for long-term use, with all waste repurposed within a circular system.

SUBCATEGORIES AND PROPERTIES:

Sourcing and characteristics

Reliance on external services
Total input use
Upstream impact of inputs
Input hazard profile
Local sourcing of inputs

Usage and dependency

Input use efficiency
Input use intensity

Lifespan and maintenance

Lifespan of equipment and materials

Waste and circularity

Waste generation
Material circularity

Agricultural suppliesGovernance

Economics

Outcome: Farms are economically viable, generating sufficient returns to support productive, resilient businesses. They are financially secure, able to withstand change, invest in continual improvement and build strong market relationships that create long-term value.

SUBCATEGORIES AND PROPERTIES:

Financial performance

Financial viability
Sales and exports
Cost efficiency
Value realisation

Financial resilience

Income stability
Financial buffer capacity
Short-term solvency
Market channel diversity
Income security
Income diversification

Financial independence

Financial autonomy

Investment and adaptive capacity

Reinvestment capacity
Access to capital
Return on investment

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