Evaluation of Sustainable Development Objectives in the Production of Protected Geographical Indication Legumes

Abstract

The Mediterranean Diet is a highly sustainable diet, and legumes are among the products that best characterize this concept. This study evaluates the environmental sustainability of the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) legume Phaseolus vulgaris L. cultivated in the Asturias region, Spain. Employing a multi-indicator approach, the study aims to define and measure certain biodiversity indicators useful for assessing the ecological quality and sustainability of the agroecosystems under consideration. Spatial analyses were conducted with GIS-based methodologies, integrating the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to generate a Sustainability Index (SI). The study found that a significant positive spatial autocorrelation was observed using Moran’s I test (Moran’s I = 0.74555, p < 0.01), indicating that the SI values were not equally distributed but clustered around particular regions. Furthermore, the Getis-Ord Gi* analysis determined statistically significant hotspots, mainly distributed in the western and southwestern areas, including regions near Cangas del Narcea and Tineo. This paper highlights the importance of integrating spatial analysis for environmental assessments to develop sustainability approaches. Soil quality, water use, biodiversity, and land management are some of the factors that affect sustainability outcomes in the region. The results underscore the role of PGI in promoting sustainable agricultural practices by meeting geographical and quality requirements for local production.