A census-based sustainability indicator of agricultural holdings: the case of Italy

Sustainable agriculture is a critical issue globally. Evaluating it is often hindered by the complex, multidimensional nature of agricultural sustainability and the lack of statistical data at individual farm level. Ensuring the sustainability of Italian agriculture is vital for safeguarding both the survival of smaller agricultural holdings and the competitiveness of larger farms. In this context, the study proposes a methodology to estimate the degree of sustainability of Italian agricultural holdings. The methodology employs five indicators or dimensions – each representing a strategic farm feature related to sustainability – all derived from the Seventh Agricultural Census 2020. The number of sustainability dimensions each farm possesses forms the basis of the methodology. The findings indicate that, in 2020, 45% of holdings had at least one sustainability dimension; this share increases to 72% if the farm manager is under 40 years old. However, a significant sustainability gap remains between the north and south of the country.