Refining Sustainability Indicators for Sugarcane Production in Sofala Province of Mozambique: A Delphi Approach

Abstract

The main objective of this article was to select a set of suitable and priority indicators to assess the sustainability of sugarcane production in the province of Sofala, in Mozambique. The Delphi method was used, and the process was conducted in two rounds with the participation of experts from academia, a sugarcane factory and government institutions. From the previous 68 indicators, a total of 38 indicators—which consisted of 9 environmental, 16 economic and 13 social indicators—were selected. Based on the priority of indicators, the following are the seven main sugarcane sustainability indicators, with 100% consensus: water availability during the entire sugarcane production process, sugarcane yield, sugarcane price, evaluation of the production based on market size and prices, sharing production risks between producers and factories, access to adequate protective equipment and wage satisfaction. Monitoring performance through these indicators can provide decision-makers with quantitative information that can contribute towards a sustainable sugarcane production system.