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A Tool for the Sustainability Assessment of Farms: Selection, Adaptation and Use of Indicators for an Italian Case Study

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  • Anna Gaviglio

    (Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety (VESPA), University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy)

  • Mattia Bertocchi

    (Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety (VESPA), University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy)

  • Eugenio Demartini

    (Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety (VESPA), University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy)

Abstract

Indicator-based tools are widely used for the assessment of farm sustainability, but analysts still face methodological and conceptual issues, including data availability, the complexity of the concept of sustainability and the heterogeneity of agricultural systems. This study contributes to this debate through the illustration of a procedure for farm sustainability assessment focussed on the case study of the South Milan Agricultural Park, Italy. The application is based on a set of environmental, social and economic indicators retrieved from the literature review. The framework is based on three main steps: (i) Data collection mainly through interviews with farmers and institutions; (ii) data elaboration through an aggregative structure; and (iii) score analysis. The latter step includes a descriptive analysis that allows a comparison among farms or groups of farms and a principal components analysis that helps to confirm the dimensions in which indicators were previously included (components). Results derived from the sampled farms show that the framework can provide easy-to-read results useful at different levels. The study highlighted the procedures for the framework construction that is compatible with the region’s context and objectives, using an analytical approach that aims at the use of balanced features of availability and reliability of data.

Suggested Citation

  • Anna Gaviglio & Mattia Bertocchi & Eugenio Demartini, 2017. "A Tool for the Sustainability Assessment of Farms: Selection, Adaptation and Use of Indicators for an Italian Case Study," Resources, MDPI, vol. 6(4), pages 1-21, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jresou:v:6:y:2017:i:4:p:60-:d:116200
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    3. Stan Selbonne & Loïc Guindé & François Causeret & Pierre Chopin & Jorge Sierra & Régis Tournebize & Jean-Marc Blazy, 2023. "How to Measure the Performance of Farms with Regard to Climate-Smart Agriculture Goals? A Set of Indicators and Its Application in Guadeloupe," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-21, January.
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    6. Adele Coppola & Mario Amato & Domenico Vistocco & Fabio Verneau, 2022. "Measuring the economic sustainability of Italian farms using FADN data," Agricultural Economics, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 68(9), pages 327-337.
    7. Escobar Jaramillo, Diana & Arata, Linda & Mausch, Kai & Sckokai, Paolo & Fasse, Anja & Rommel, Jens & Chopin, Pierre, 2024. "Linking innovations adoption with farm sustainability: Empirical evidence from rainwater harvesting and fertilizer micro-dosing in Tanzania," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    8. Vivek Arulnathan & Mohammad Davoud Heidari & Maurice Doyon & Eric P. H. Li & Nathan Pelletier, 2022. "Economic Indicators for Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment: Going beyond Life Cycle Costing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-27, December.
    9. Fariña, Santiago & Moreno, Osiris Vigil & Candioti, Francisco & Villanueva, Cristóbal & Ledezma, William Sánchez & Moscoso, Cristian J. & Cajarville, Cecilia & Charlón, Verónica & Abaunza, Luis Urbina, 2024. "Milk production systems in Latin America and the Caribbean: Biophysical, socio-economic, and environmental performance," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 218(C).

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