Selection of the minimum indicator set for agricultural sustainability assessments at the plot scale

Abstract

Some authors raise concerns about the validity, reliability, and transparency of indicator selection in agricultural sustainability assessments. In this regard, several selection criteria have been put forward for sustainability assessments at the farm, regional, country, or planet levels. However, assessments at the plot or experimental unit level require, in addition to the adaptation of these criteria or the generation of new ones, the construction of a selection methodology. Thus, the aim of this study was to build a framework for selecting the minimum set of indicators that will be part of the agricultural sustainability analyses at the plot or experimental unit level. A hierarchical order of indicators was established, consisting of raw, baseline, and core indicators; the latter made up the minimum indicators set (MIS). Subsequently, selection procedures and criteria were established, consisting of mandatory, main non-mandatory, alternative non-mandatory, and correlation indicators. The selection method was evaluated with the results of a greenhouse tomato fertilization study. Of the 40 raw indicators with which the analysis began, the MIS was made up of eight core indicators: three environmental, four social, and one economic. This indicator selection method uses a rigorous process, with 22 selection criteria, distributed in four hierarchical groups. At the same time, it promotes less subjectivity, by including statistical analysis, algorithms, and mathematical processes.

Sustainability assessment methodology oriented to soil-associated agricultural experiments

“…checklist. Indicators in the MIS represents each attribute and dimension in SMAES (Monsalve and Henao, 2022).…”

“…As mentioned in the Materials and Methods section, indicator selection process was based on the method developed by Monsalve et al (2022). As shown in Table 3, the minimum indicator set (MIS) was made up at the environmental dimension from the core indicators soil quality indicator using principal component analysis (SQ PCA ), with a score of 0.81; land use (LU) (0.68); potential eutrophication (PE) (0.75); and global warming potential (GWP) (0.73).…”

“…Therefore, it is necessary to describe these criteria by adding clarity and reliability to the sustainability assessments (de Olde et al, 2016). The indicators selection procedure included in SMAES (Monsalve and Henao, 2022) allows the user to choose the suitable indicators given a list of criteria grouped in hierarchical categories (raw, baseline, and core indicators). It is possible and highly recommended to use this procedure both before the experiment development and during the analysis.…”

“…The indicator selection method developed by Monsalve and Henao (2022) was included in SMAES. In summary, this method divides the indicators according to their hierarchy (raw, baseline, and core indicators).…”

“…Regarding the indicators management, Table 4 shows the indicators selected (core indicators) for analysis with SMAES. Characteristics of all raw indicators can be seen in Monsalve and Henao (2022). To define the core indicators, we adopted the method for selection of indicators proposed by Monsalve and Henao (2022).…”