The Governance Approach of Certified Quality Wine Consortia With Regard to the Four Dimensions of Sustainability: SAFA and SSGI Methodologies

The transition of the agri-food system toward sustainability necessitates robust assessment frameworks to both guide and evaluate stakeholder performance. This study applies the Sustainability Strategy for Geographical Indications (SSGI) to assess the governance role of Sicilian quality wine consortia in promoting sustainability among their affiliated members. Using a customised questionnaire encompassing 84 SSGI indicators, the research evaluates the performance of these Sicilian organisations across the four pillars of sustainability. The findings reveal a fragmented and uneven level of engagement: While several consortia exhibit moderate performance in economic and governance dimensions, significant weaknesses emerge in the social and environmental pillars. Limited strategic planning, insufficient internal accountability and the absence of shared sustainability objectives impede the systemic integration of sustainable practices. This study highlights the potential of the SSGI framework to serve as a practical guideline for geographical indication organisations and producers, facilitating the identification of sustainability priorities, the monitoring of progress and fostering continuous improvement. The Sicilian case study provides a valuable example of the broader challenges encountered within the Geographical Indication systems, underscoring the imperative for integrated and collaborative strategies that align the pursuit of quality production with core sustainability principles.