Integrating the social perspective into the sustainability assessment of agri-food systems: A review of indicators

Sannou, Ramoudane Orou; Kirschke, Sabrina; Guenther, Edeltraud

doi:10.1016/j.spc.2023.05.014

Cited by 17 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 95 publications

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“…This research was supported by a qualitative approach, considered as an adequate methodological choice when dealing with the complexity of integrating ESG criteria into business models [22]. Furthermore, the qualitative methodology, described by Aspers and Corte [32], is an interactive process that allows for a deeper comprehension of a phenomenon and is particularly useful in the agri-food sector, where research on the impact of sustainable strategies is developing [33,34]. Finally, the qualitative methodology is crucial for investigating sustainability practices in SMEs in-depth, addressing their specific characteristics and contexts [20,35].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The ESG Menu: Integrating Sustainable Practices in the Portuguese Agri-Food Sector

Camelo,

Nogueira

2024

Sustainability

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This paper investigates the incorporation of sustainable development within the Portuguese agri-food sector amid global environmental and resource challenges. It underscores the role of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria in steering businesses towards sustainable practices. Through qualitative analysis, in-depth interviews with managers and experts explored sustainable business model adoption, highlighting SMEs’ unique challenges. The study reveals a divergence in sustainability practice maturity, advocating for integration into organizational culture and strategy. It points out SMEs’ reactive stance due to resource constraints and external pressures, contrasting with larger firms’ proactive approaches. The research supports a strategic reevaluation of business models for sustainability, emphasizing innovation, leadership, organizational commitment, and transparent communication. Practical contributions include embedding sustainability into core operations, enhancing competitiveness, fostering sustainable organizational culture, prioritizing employee well-being, and leveraging innovative marketing for sustainability communication. Recognizing its limitations, this study advocates exploring blockchain and AI for transparency, leadership’s role in sustainable models, and the importance of marketing in the agri-food sector for sustainable management. Insights indicate that innovation and strategic partnerships are crucial for enhancing organizational sustainability and achieving the SDGs.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The ESG Menu: Integrating Sustainable Practices in the Portuguese Agri-Food Sector

Camelo,

Nogueira

2024

Sustainability

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“…Indicators are positioned as either part of the production stages or as part of health and labour relations, all of which involve the social impact of natural resources embedded in agricultural products because these too have an impact on employment along each stage of production. In summary, the authors reiterate that there is still a desperate need for empirical case studies of how aspects of social sustainability can be measured [29]. The following section focuses on tools from outside the scientific literature that evaluate the social value of water.…”

Section: Thematic Review Of Social Sustainability Indicators For Agri...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Following the categorisation theories described by Sannou et al [29], the social indicators for water footprint were categorised by their definition;if the definition was not fully understood, categorisation was performed by looking at similarities between concepts. As a last attempt to categorise indicators, the differences between neighbouring categories (decision-bound theory) were considered.…”

Section: The Wfamentioning

confidence: 99%

A Systematic Review of Social Sustainability Indicators for Water Use along the Agricultural Value Chain

Pilane,

Jordaan,

Bahta

2024

Hydrology

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The concept of sustainable water use serves as an indicator of environmental, economic, and social pressure on freshwater resources globally; however, the social element of sustainability is not well researched within water-consumption studies. The objective of this paper is to consider the current state of the literature on social sustainability indicators for water use in agriculture, as well as to describe the social (people) element of sustainability and establish water use as an element of society. By combining viewpoints, systematic literature reviews address research topics with a strength that no single work can have. From 314 papers published between 2013 and 2023, 42 papers were eligible for the review. This work employed a mixed-methods approach that included a systematic review following the (PRISMA) framework, scientific mapping through VOSviewer software (version 1.6.19), thematic reviews, and a review of the grey literature retrieved from artificial intelligence and deep learning technologies. The findings indicate that social sustainability indicators are based on environmental indicators. There are no set standards for what to consider as a social indicator of water use or for how these indictors can be measured. Life-cycle assessment and water-footprint assessment frameworks have shown progress with indicators that capture the social value of water such as productivity-reducing externalities, equity, and jobs per cubic metre of water.

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“…In this context, it is relevant to understand the role of migrants in Italian agriculture, also in relation to its structural changes, and the opportunities they are given to contribute to the sector while operating in acceptable working conditions. Good working conditions and decent wages are among the concerns at the core of the European social model [7] as well as literature that includes "fair working conditions" among the social sustainability indicators in agri-food systems [8]. Consistently with this approach, the last reform of Common Agricultural Policy introduced "social conditionality", which obliges farmers to comply with the minimum labour standards to receive subsidies.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Policy Instruments to Improve Foreign Workforce’s Position and Social Sustainability of the Agriculture in Italy

Macrì,

Orsini

2024

Sustainability

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Agricultural employment in advanced economies has been suggestively described as a “short and step” pyramid with only limited opportunities for workers to climb to higher positions, especially when they belong to the most vulnerable categories, such as migrants. The presence of poor jobs and living conditions for temporary agricultural workers reported by mass media, trade unions, NGOs, and international observers contrasts dramatically with the idea of a modern and thriving sector, as the Italian agricultural sector should be, and it represents a challenge for the social concerns that have been alongside environmental ones in the definition of sustainability since the Brundtland Report released in 1987 by the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED). Even mechanisation does not necessarily facilitate better working conditions. In fact, where the workforce is largely replaced by machineries, the remaining opportunities for paid workers are mainly for unskilled, physically demanding, and seasonal jobs. This has brought about the so-called “paradox of prosperity”, where the gap between farm and nonfarm workers in economically advanced countries has widened in terms of wages, benefits, and prospects for upward mobility. This in turn triggers a vicious circle with a structural lack of available workforce for the sector, which has been increasingly provided by migrants with very little bargaining power. On the other hand, the adoption of new technologies and digitalisation in agriculture is leading to an increasing demand for skilled workers, which often remains uncovered because of the low conditions offered. Against this background, the aim of our work is twofold. First, we characterise the role of the foreign workforce in relation to the structural changes in Italian agriculture and considering territorial differences. Second, we examine the main policy instruments to facilitate recruitment and tackle undeclared work and more specifically the Quality Agricultural Work Network (Rete del lavoro agricolo di qualità) launched in Italy in 2016 to tackle undeclared work and exploitative labour. We do so by conducting a literature review and semi-structured qualitative interviews with 16 farmers in Italy carried out in 2022 within the project Rural Social ACT funded by the Asylum, Migration, and Integration Fund (2021–2027). The results show that even though foreign workers are a key resource for agriculture in Italy, there remain severe recruitment issues and segregation in low-skilled and precarious jobs. Overall, it is necessary to improve the awareness of the key role of work in agriculture and to strengthen the effectiveness of tools to enhance the visibility of compliant farms. So far (January 2024), only 6600 farms have joined the Quality Agricultural Work Network, with an overall modest enthusiasm from the farmers interviewed about its current effectiveness. Other instruments are explored such as employee sharing contracts, and there clearly emerges a need for public support of professional training through the Common Agricultural Policy to improve both the bargaining power of foreign workers and the productivity of the sector.

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Integrating the social perspective into the sustainability assessment of agri-food systems: A review of indicators

Cited by 17 publications

References 95 publications

The ESG Menu: Integrating Sustainable Practices in the Portuguese Agri-Food Sector

The ESG Menu: Integrating Sustainable Practices in the Portuguese Agri-Food Sector

A Systematic Review of Social Sustainability Indicators for Water Use along the Agricultural Value Chain

Policy Instruments to Improve Foreign Workforce’s Position and Social Sustainability of the Agriculture in Italy

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