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How Sustainable are Food Systems? One Step beyond the Concept

Author

Listed:
  • Clara Cicatiello
  • Silvio Franco
  • Emanuele Blasi
  • Barbara Pancino

Abstract

The sustainability of food systems is a topical issue in recent years, but the definition of this concept is still very unclear. This paper aims to face this challenge, in order to support a sustainability assessment of the food systems. Such a definition should tackle the underpinning dimensions of sustainability, i.e. the environmental, social and economic domains. Once the sustainability concept has been defined, an interpretative framework to assess food system sustainability can be proposed, and indicators to measure these issues are discussed. Many have already been tested at the operative level, but it remains unclear how to measure some social and economic issues. Suggestions on how to fill these gaps are discussed in the paper, so as to provide a more comprehensive understanding of how food systems sustainability may be measured in the practice.

Suggested Citation

  • Clara Cicatiello & Silvio Franco & Emanuele Blasi & Barbara Pancino, 2015. "How Sustainable are Food Systems? One Step beyond the Concept," RIVISTA DI STUDI SULLA SOSTENIBILITA', FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2015(1), pages 181-196.
    • Handle: RePEc:fan:rissri:v:html10.3280/riss2015-001012
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Silvio Franco & Clara Cicatiello, 2018. "Food waste due to over-nutrition in the Italians? dietary habits," RIVISTA DI STUDI SULLA SOSTENIBILITA', FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2018(1), pages 159-180.
    2. Faccilongo Nicola & Piermichele LaSala & Rimantas Stasys & Leonardo DiGioia, 2018. "Models of farms management and organization in social agriculture," RIVISTA DI STUDI SULLA SOSTENIBILITA', FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2018(1), pages 107-118.

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