Prioritizing sustainability in Tunisia's dairy sector: a Delphi-AHP framework for indicators and actors

The lack of a comprehensive assessment framework limits the effective monitoring of the sustainability of Tunisia's dairy sector. This study developed and prioritized key sustainability indicators for the dairy value chain in northeastern Tunisia using a rigorous, participatory, mixed-methods approach. From 2021 to 2023, we conducted a Delphi process with fourteen agri-food experts, building on the initial input of seventy stakeholders, to reach a consensus on the most relevant indicators. The Delphi process yielded sixty-five consensus-based indicators including economic, social, environmental, and governance dimensions. In the second phase, we used the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to systematically weigh sustainability criteria with twenty-six stakeholders representing the entire value chain. Results revealed clear priorities across all four dimensions. In the economic sphere, there was a strong consensus on financial indicators such as “income per liter of milk” and “production costs”. From a social perspective, the wellbeing and financial autonomy of farming families were identified as key concerns. In the environmental sphere, the consensus emphasized indicators aligned with sustainable resource management, such as soil conservation and legume promotion. In the governance sphere, effective management and knowledge dissemination were deemed essential, and information sharing and respect for employee rights were highlighted as key components. This integrated Delphi–AHP approach provides a robust, context-sensitive framework to support evidence-based decision-making and to promote the sustainability of Tunisia's vital dairy value chain.