The farming system typology built in this study was consistent with similar typologies produced by a previous study that used data from farmers’ annual applications for CAP payments within the same study area (Ribeiro et al., 2014). Suggesting that the framework can be easily reproducedon other locations with comparable conservation problems, using similar CAP paying data. Such a framework would potentially improve the cost-effectiveness of agri-environment policies since qualifying farms could be automatically selected on a yearly basis, avoiding the need for contracting iong-term subscription agreements with individual farmers, as with many actual AES (Batart et al., 2015), which would thus be encouraged to remain in the premium paid farming systems. In addition, it is conceivable that the framework would fit under CAP Pillar 1, thereby avoiding co-financing by Member States and relieving funds for Pillar 2 Rural Development policies. Moreover, aside from financing the preliminary studies to identify the farming systems to target, no significant extra-costs should emerge, as the required data to implement the framework is already available in the farm-level databases maintained by the CAP paying agencies in Member states, and also because significant cost-savings could be expected from the inherent simplification of the administrative burden and the easing of field inspections.