Report on assessment of the social, environmental and economic sustainability of food quality schemes

This report provides an assessment of the social, environmental and economic performance of 29 Food Quality Schemes including organic, Protected Designation of Origin and Protected Geographical Indication products. Each FQS is compared to a reference product in the same country which is not certified or to the national average for the relevant value chain. The same method and the same 20 indicators are applied to all products and their reference at farm, processing and – where possible and relevant – retail levels. The economic indicators cover prices, gross operating margins, exports and local spill-overs. The environmental indicators include carbon footprint, food miles, water use and water pollution. The social indicators cover employment, social capital, bargaining power distribution, generational balance and gender equity. The results for each case are summarized in a sustainability diagram displaying the value chain average differences for the key indicators. The diagrams are followed by an interpretation of the results and more details on each indicator on a case-by-case basis. Wherever an indicator could not be estimated, the reason for this is discussed, providing a basis for improving either the indicator or the data collection system.