Sustainability Indicators in Rice and Wheat Supply Chain

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Economics
• Supply Chain Management
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Rice and wheat are globally significant food staples, impacting environmental, social, and economic sustainability.
• The agricultural sector is a major contributor to global GDP and employment, highlighting the need for sustainable practices.
• Developing a robust sustainability index for these supply chains is complex due to diverse factors like location and farming methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify optimal sustainability indicators for the rice and wheat supply chain.
• To establish a foundation for a comprehensive sustainability index and management system.
• To inform policy initiatives for enhancing supply chain sustainability.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review to identify existing sustainability indicators.
• Expert opinion survey to refine and select optimal indicators.
• Application of the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) framework for indicator selection.

Main Results:

• A wide range of indicators were identified in the literature, with varying focus based on study objectives.
• Environmental indicators showed more consistency across studies than social and economic indicators.
• Expert consensus was reached on most indicators, with minor variations based on geographical location.

Conclusions:

• The identified optimal indicators provide a solid basis for developing a sustainability index for rice and wheat supply chains.
• These indicators can guide the implementation of sustainability information management systems.
• The findings support the formulation of targeted policy initiatives to improve supply chain sustainability.