Highlights:

• Benchmarking to improve the sustainability of rice production.

• Assessment of the sustainability of rice production in Brazil and Cuba.

• Goal Programming philosophy to evaluate the sustainability of rice production.

• Decision making for the application of corrective measures.

Abstract:

The objective of this paper is to assess the sustainability of the agricultural production chain of rice (Oryza sativa L.) in Brazil and Cuba, using a conceptual model that considers five sectors of sustainability supported in the Goals Programming philosophy as multicriteria analysis tools. A synthetic sustainability indicator is constructed to support decision-making through the benchmarking process to contribute the environmental, economic and social sustainability of rice farming. As results, Brazil shows a greater sustainability based on better availability of environmental resources for rice cultivation, a lower relative environmental load, better economic and productive performance, poorer employment and wage policies and higher satisfaction of the social demand for rice. On the other hand, Cuba shows a deficit of environmental resources, higher relative environmental load, low economic and productive performance, better employment and wage policies, and unsatisfied social demand for rice.