Sustainability assessment of selected dairy farms using social multi criteria approach

Abstract

Turkish dairy industry is being modernized and there are many successful examples. Big farms are supported while ecologic and social factors can often be overlooked. Objective of the research is to quantify sustainability at dairy farm level and compare farms with different management practices. The study examined current dairy production practices on farms assessing resource and energy uses as well as management and industry structure. Based on literature and stakeholders, a sustainability assessment framework was developed. Feed management, herd management, manure management and social organization are the main components in the framework and encompass environmental, social and economic dimensions. Dairy farms were selected by purposive sampling method. Dairy farms are categorized based on the processor they sell raw milk to; industrial milk processors, co-operatives and directly to consumers. Qualitative and quantitative data is collected from eighty farms via questionnaire. Based on the questionnaire; resource, energy, water and labor criteria were quantified using both qualitative and quantitative data. Sustainability assessment was conducted using Social Multi Criteria Evaluation methodology. A snapshot of the farms was taken and their performances based on farm management and milk production practices were compared from a sustainability standpoint. NAIADE is used for final comparison of the farms. Results indicate that small cooperative member farms are more sustainable. Using the same framework, larger studies with a larger sample size are encouraged to be conducted to see if general farm population reflects results of this study. Results of the assessment aim to start discussing sustainability at farm level.