DELTA: An Integrated Indicator-Based Self-Assessment Tool for the Evaluation of Dairy Farms Sustainability in Quebec, Canada

Abstract

A self-assessment tool was developed for use by dairy farmers in Quebec and aims to measure the agri-environmental, techno-economic, and social dimensions of sustainability. Some of the methodological choices made in the development of the tool and its validation by the end users are presented. Validation of the tool was conducted with 17 farmers using a questionnaire divided into three sections regarding their perception of the application procedure, the consistency of the results in regards to the reality of their farm, and the utility of the tool. Analysis of the questionnaires confirms the relevance of the tool. Four case studies were used to examine the results in depth and clarify the relationships between the three components of sustainability of dairy farms and between these components and the indicators. Case studies results demonstrate that the aggregation of indicators into a single score could remove information necessary for the comprehension. The visual integration through radar diagrams leaves the flexibility for the farmer to understand his scores and compare himself to peers. Based on DELTA, a new schematization of a sustainable farm has emerged where a farmer makes compromises to manage sustainability on his farm and maintain the balance of the farm system.

KEYWORDS:

• aggregation
• case studies
• end-use validation
• indicators
• sustainability assessment

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Fonds québécois de la recherche sur la nature et les technologies under Grant [2006-PR-105650] and by the Canadian Dairy Commission and Novalait Inc. for the scholarship awarded to the Ph.D. candidate.