Sustainability Indicators in Rice and Wheat Supply Chain

Sustainability within the rice and wheat supply chain is integral to attaining the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as they are the two most consumed grains as food. Rice and wheat cultivation significantly impacts the environment, with the agricultural sector employing 27% of the global workforce and contributing 4% to the world’s GDP, thereby affecting social and economic sustainability. Developing a sustainability index for the wheat and rice supply chain is a complex endeavor, as it depends on various factors such as the location of growers, farming methods, the target audience, and the stakeholders involved. This index must be derived from an optimal selection of indicators to avoid information overload while covering all essential sustainability aspects. There are different methods, such as life cycle assessment, energy analysis, ecological footprint, and carbon footprint, being used to assess sustainability, with indicator-based assessment emerging as a comprehensive approach. This study utilised the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) to identify optimal sustainability indicators in the wheat and rice supply chain. A systematic literature review was initially conducted, followed by an expert opinion survey to determine the required indicators. The literature review unveiled a wide array of indicators used across studies, often contingent on each study’s specific objectives. While some consistency existed in environmental indicators, discussions on social and economic dimensions within the wheat and rice supply chain were limited. Analysis of the expert opinion survey revealed a consensus on most selected indicators, albeit with variations based on experts’ geographical locations. The final set of optimal indicators identified can serve as a foundation for developing a sustainability index, implementing a sustainability information management system, and formulating policy initiatives in the rice and wheat supply chain.