Sustainability assessment in MilKey covers the three sustainability dimensions, i.e., environmental, social, and economic, and is performed using the “DEXi” multi-criteria methodology. Drawing upon the DEXi method, a model is developed to evaluate sustainability through aggregated and qualitative scores of dairy farms through a Greenhouse Gases (GHG) mitigation perspective. For each sustainability indicator, qualitative scores are assigned on rating scales constructed using reference values. Then, the indicators are aggregated to their corresponding higher levels into another qualitative score by using the weight for each indicator.

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Sustainability assessment in MilKey covers the three sustainability dimensions, i.e., environmental, social, and economic, and is performed using the “DEXi” multi-criteria methodology. This methodology provides the possibility to break down a decisional problem into smaller, less complex sub-problems represented by criteria. All the criteria are arranged hierarchically so that those at higher levels depend on those at lower levels.

At the lowest level of the arrangement, the last criteria are called “indicators”. These indicators can be calculated using the required parameters. Then, they are aggregated to their corresponding levels (criteria). The indicators have different weights on their higher level depending on the importance that is given to the indicator in the criteria definition.

Drawing upon the DEXi method, a model is developed to evaluate sustainability through aggregated and qualitative scores of dairy farms through a Greenhouse Gases (GHG) mitigation perspective. For each sustainability indicator, qualitative scores are assigned on rating scales constructed using reference values. Then, the indicators are aggregated to their corresponding higher levels into another qualitative score by using the weight for each indicator.

Dexi method

This chapter of the platform provides a library of indicators with their definitions and formulas, as well as reference values of their rating scales. It is divided into three sections for each sustainability dimension (environmental pillar, economic pillar and social pillar). All these indicators have been gathered in the following handbooks:

It also contains a simple tool for examining the effect of the relative weight of each sustainability pillar to the total sustainability score of three types of dairy production systems (Multicriteria Sustainability Simulator).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reference – Indicator Handbook

Baillet V, Balaine L, Díaz de Otálora X, Rodriguez DGP, Frątczak-Müller J, Flø BE, Amon B, Alem H, Anestis V, Bartzanas T, Breen J, Buckley C, Castellan E, Dach J, Dragoni F, Johansen A, Jørgensen G, Lien G, Rychla A, Sinnott U, Wawrzyniak A, Winiwarter W, Wilfart A (2022a) Dexi-Dairy indicator handbook – Sustainability tree and selected indicators for assessing European specialised dairy farms. Recherche Data Gouv, V1. doi:https://doi.org/10.57745/XEPNUH

References – DEXi method
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  • Baillet V, Balaine L, Diaz de Otalora XD, Flø BE, Rodriguez DGP, Krol D, Amon B, Wilfart A (2022b) Sustainability assessment of dairy production systems: templates for farm data collection. Recherche Data Gouv. doi:https://doi.org/10.57745/XVFWVC
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