A comprehensive assessment of dairy farming sustainability based on stakeholder priorities and concerns: a case study in Northern Italy

Improving the sustainability of dairy farming requires the identification of practices and indicators that are both scientifically robust and applicable under different farming conditions. This study aimed at identifying priority practices, perceived barriers and monitoring indicators for dairy farming in northern Italy by integrating the perspectives of different stakeholders involved in the dairy supply chain. A sequential integration of quantitative and qualitative approaches was adopted. First, a structured questionnaire was administered to farmers and non-farmer stakeholders to investigate sustainability-related practices, implementation barriers, and potential indicators. The survey findings were subsequently used to guide three regional focus groups, in which participants applied an impact–feasibility matrix to identify priority practices and define specific indicators. Survey results showed broad agreement in the response patterns of different stakeholders, with manure management, animal welfare, and production efficiency emerging as the main priorities. Excessive costs and insufficient technical support represented the main barriers to implementation. Focus groups confirmed these priorities while highlighting regional differences in the preferred management strategies. Participants also identified practical indicators directly linked to the proposed practices, including environmental, animal welfare, and management-related measures. The sequential integration of quantitative and qualitative methods enabled the translation of stakeholder perceptions into context-specific and operational priorities and indicators. These findings can provide a practical framework for supporting sustainability assessment and decision-making in dairy farming and suggest that future applications should involve a broader range of stakeholders and validate the proposed indicators under commercial farm conditions.