The aim of the paper is to evaluate adequately the academic performance efficiency of the teaching and research staff employed in the agricultural higher education institutions and organizations in the field of agricultural science and innovation. Traditional employee performance appraisal as output/input ratio has a relative aspect and the evaluation techniques define the decision making units by numerical indicators that exploit economies of scale. As a criterion for the evaluation of the academic performance rating, it is suggested to use the distance output function, which involves a non-parametric approach of the decision making factors. The primary data for the academic performance appraisal in the agricultural higher education institution and organizations in the field of agricultural science and innovation were collected in a standard format defined by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Moldova. The sample of data is representative and reflects objectively all the methodical-didactic, scientific and research activities by including the whole institutional staff into the investigation procedure. The database developed for the storage of primary data allows statistical processing and nonparametric modeling for the evaluation of academic performance indicators in institutions.