Definition of good practices for the sustainability assessment of agrifood chains, systems and food environments

Businesses and organizations, including those operating in the food sector, have started to collect information on the relationship between their activities and the “issues” related to sustainability in order to respond to stakeholders' requirements for sustainability (Troster and Hiete, 2018). In most cases, they adopt collection, management and reporting schemes and indicators defined by certification bodies (Mori Junior et al., 2016) to communicate their level of sustainability to stakeholders and consumers for economic or marketing purposes. As a result, companies use indicators and adopt collection, management and communication systems that differ from each other and are often disconnected among supply chain partners and stakeholders.
The development of practical and simple good practices for Sustainability Performance Measurements (SPM), Key performance Indicators (KPIs) adoption and accountancy and accountability procedures can provide an overview of useful strategies and methodologies for food system companies (Gray, 1992; Ferry and Murphy, 2017).

The objective of the Task is to define good practices that are used in assessing, reporting and communicating sustainability according to the characteristics of value chains, Local Agrifood Systems (LAFS) and Food Environment (Fes) as well as the types of internal and external stakeholders to whom communication is addressed.  
The activity of the Task will concern: 
1. Literature analysis on reporting schemes in the food systems.
2. In-depth analysis of selected case studies.
3. Collection and systematization of good practices related to the accountancy and accountability systems.
4. Definition of practical methodologies for the implementation of SPMs.
5. Definition of a communication format for stakeholders to communicate the status and evolution of the sustainability of the food system.

The expected results of this Task concern the following aspects:

1) Literature analysis on reporting schemes in the food systems.

2) In-depth analysis of selected case studies, with particular reference to quality value chains and systems.

3) Collection and systematization of good practices on accountability and reporting of sustainable procedures.

4) Definition of practical methodologies for the implementation of SPMs.

5) Implementation of a communication format for stakeholders to communicate the status and evolution of the sustainability of the food system.