What Does Sustainability Mean? Knowledge Gleaned From Applying Mixed Methods Research to Wine Grape Growing

Abstract

We present outcomes from a mixed methods research project in agricultural sciences. An atypical methodology for sciences was developed as the only way to avoid embedded assumptions commonly seen in sustainability investigations. Eighty-three upper echelon participants from the wine grape industry participated in 14 focus groups in five countries: Australia, Chile, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United States. Quantitative measures were compared with results from qualitatively coded participant utterances using two content analysis software tools: Leximancer and NVivo. This article presents the strategies and method applied in this investigation to define sustainability. A consensual sustainability definition prior to the establishment of assessment systems is essential. The model developed seems to be viable for similar sustainability investigations of individual organizations.

Transnational Comparison of Sustainability Assessment Programs for Viticulture and a Case-Study on Programs’ Engagement Processes

“…In the context of this study, the purpose of wine grape growers is to produce grapes to produce wines and to do so sustainably; i.e., "be able to economically provide for the farmer while maintaining its ability to consistently produce and improve quality over time" [9]. The main finding from this study is threefold: that the success of each of these programs is largely due to the people driving the programs (program managers, innovative growers and/or early adopters); the way these people communicate and engage with their stakeholders and peers; and the usefulness of the developed program to improve sustainability.…”

“…Minimum fundamental issues must be defined prior to the establishment of the assessment method, such as: a sustainability definition [8]; scope; context; objectives; and viewpoint of the assessment [9,10]. Having these issues defined, assessments must be constantly evaluated regarding their appropriateness, meaningfulness and usefulness [7].…”

“…The results from this study are part of a larger 3-stage study in which stage (1) aimed to define sustainability through an Assisted Focus Group Method of Enquiry (AFGME) [9], stage (2) produce a list of indicators for sustainability assessment through an Adapted Nominal Group Technique (ANGT) [10], and stage (3)-reported in this paper-aimed at discussing the engagement process of viticultural sustainability programs through a traditional focus group approach and document and compare the most prominent sustainability assessment programs for individual organisations in viticulture worldwide. Table 2 outlines the questions used in the stage 3 focus group discussions.…”

“…Table 2 outlines the questions used in the stage 3 focus group discussions. The stage 3 group discussions were conducted from December 2011 to November 2012 with top-level managers (e.g., CEOs, Chief Winemakers and Chief Viticulturists) of grape growing organisations from five countries: Australia, Chile, New Zealand, South Africa and United States [9].…”

Sustainability Assessment in Wine-Grape Growing in the New World: Economic, Environmental, and Social Indicators for Agricultural Businesses

“…A fundamental problem underlying all the other sustainability issues is the problematic definition of sustainability-or the indiscriminate "plethora" of sustainability definitions [11] (p. 49)-and the initial aim of the revised project was to determine a single self-explanatory definition that was recognisable to and relevant for all stakeholders in the study [12].…”