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Handling Diversity of Visions and Priorities in Food Chain Sustainability Assessment

Author

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  • Francesca Galli

    (Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, via del Borghetto 80, Pisa 56124, Italy)

  • Fabio Bartolini

    (Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, via del Borghetto 80, Pisa 56124, Italy)

  • Gianluca Brunori

    (Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, via del Borghetto 80, Pisa 56124, Italy)

Abstract

Food chain sustainability assessment is challenging on several grounds. Handling knowledge and information on sustainability performance and coping with the diversity of visions around “what counts as sustainable food” are two key issues addressed by this study. By developing a comparative case study on local, regional and global wheat-to-bread chains, and confronting the multidimensionality of sustainability, this work focuses on the differing visions and perspectives of stakeholders. We integrate qualitative and quantitative data, stakeholder consultation and multi-criteria analysis to align the visions and the multiple meanings of sustainability. Because of the complexity and the dynamicity of the food system, the multidimensionality of the sustainability concept and its pliability to stakeholders priorities, sustainability is an object of competition for firms in the agro-food sector and has major implications in the governance of food chains. Results identify key propositions in relation to: (i) the value of combining science-led evidence with socio-cultural values; (ii) multidimensional sustainability assessment as a self diagnosis tool; and (iii) the need to identify shared assessment criteria by communities of reference.

Suggested Citation

  • Francesca Galli & Fabio Bartolini & Gianluca Brunori, 2016. "Handling Diversity of Visions and Priorities in Food Chain Sustainability Assessment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(4), pages 1-21, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:8:y:2016:i:4:p:305-:d:66573
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Gianluca Brunori & Francesca Galli & Dominique Barjolle & Rudolf Van Broekhuizen & Luca Colombo & Mario Giampietro & James Kirwan & Tim Lang & Erik Mathijs & Damian Maye & Kees De Roest & Carin Rougoo, 2016. "Are Local Food Chains More Sustainable than Global Food Chains? Considerations for Assessment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(5), pages 1-27, May.
    3. Kimberley Reis & Cheryl Desha & Sioux Campbell & Prudence Liddy, 2022. "Working through Disaster Risk Management to Support Regional Food Resilience: A Case Study in North-Eastern Australia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-28, February.
    4. Gianluca Brunori & Francesca Galli, 2016. "Sustainability of Local and Global Food Chains: Introduction to the Special Issue," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(8), pages 1-7, August.
    5. Galli, Francesca & Arcuri, Sabrina & Bartolini, Fabio & Vervoort, Joost & Brunori, Gianluca, 2017. "Exploring scenario guided pathways for food assistance in Tuscany," Bio-based and Applied Economics Journal, Italian Association of Agricultural and Applied Economics (AIEAA), vol. 5(3), February.
    6. Oriana Gava & Francesca Galli & Fabio Bartolini & Gianluca Brunori, 2018. "Linking Sustainability with Geographical Proximity in Food Supply Chains. An Indicator Selection Framework," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 8(9), pages 1-22, August.
    7. Galli, Francesca & Venturi, Francesca & Bartolini, Fabio & Gava, Oriana & Zinnai, Angela & Chiara, Sanmartin & Andrich, Gianpaolo & Brunori, Gianluca, 2017. "Shaping food systems towards improved nutrition: a case study on Tuscan Bread Protected Designation of Origin," International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, International Food and Agribusiness Management Association, vol. 20(4), April.
    8. Reina-Usuga, Liliana & Parra-López, Carlos & de Haro-Giménez, Tomás & Carmona-Torres, Carmen, 2023. "Sustainability assessment of Territorial Short Food Supply Chains versus Large‐Scale Food Distribution: The case of Colombia and Spain," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).

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