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Agronomy
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Recycling Agro-Food and Urban Wastes According the Circular Economy and...
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Recycling Agro-Food and Urban Wastes According the Circular Economy and Sustainability Paradigms

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Farming Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 October 2023) | Viewed by 20439

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Niccolò Pampuro

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Guest Editor
Institute of Sciences and Technologies for Sustainable Energy and Mobility (STEMS), Italian National Research Council, 7-00185 Rome, Italy
Interests: composting process; agro-food waste; urban waste; GHG; organic fertilizer, densification process; circular economy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Eugenio Cavallo

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Guest Editor
Institute of Sciences and Technologies for Sustainable Energy and Mobility (STEMS), Italian National Research Council, 7-00185 Rome, Italy
Interests: biomasses; renewable energies; aerobic stabilization; circular economy; safety and health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Lucia Vigoroso

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Guest Editor
Institute of Sciences and Technologies for Sustainable Energy and Mobility (STEMS), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), 7-00185 Rome, Italy
Interests: eco-design; user-centered design; design thinking; sustainable communication; visual communication; green innovation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear colleagues,

The increasing demand for food, feed, and fibres and the consequent production of high levels of waste at all stages, as well as the need to reduce consumption and depletion of non-renewable resources while assuring economic profitability and social and economic equity, demand a transition towards a sustainable circular economy model for their production, processing, and waste and by-product management. The circular economy is a model of production and consumption in which the life cycle of products is extended. Thus, a circular economy can be defined as a self-sustaining industrial economic model, in which waste materials are used repeatedly and become new resources for the production processes. The circular economy represents a promising model for supporting sustainable agriculture, reducing environmental impact of production, processing, and waste management related activities.

Aiming to promote sustainable agriculture and food and fibre production following a sustainable circular economy approach, this Special Issue focuses on agriculture and food, feed, and fibre waste management, as well as the treatment and promotion of alternate uses of processed materials. Contributions demonstrating relevance to achieving the United Nations sustainable development goals, the European Green Deal, and Farm to Fork Strategy are included among those expected.

The Special Issue welcomes novel research, review, and opinion pieces covering all related topics, including but not limited to:

  • Generation, characterization, minimization;
  • Storage, collection and transportation;
  • Treatment (mechanical, biological, chemical, thermal, other);
  • Emerging technologies of agro-food waste valorisation;
  • Biofuels and renewable energies production;
  • Non-conventional utilization of processed wastes and by-product;
  • Organic fertilizer production and utilization;
  • Environmental assessments and planning;
  • Socio-economic analysis, policies and regulations.
  • Corporate Social Responsibility and its impacts on stakeholders and society
  • Circularity in agri-food industries

Dr. Niccolò Pampuro
Dr. Eugenio Cavallo
Dr. Lucia Vigoroso
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agronomy is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • agro-food waste
  • waste valorization
  • circular economy
  • composting
  • anaerobic digestion
  • greenhouse gases emissions
  • organic fertilizer
  • renewable energy
  • alternative fuels
  • corporate social responsibility (CSR)
  • individuals’ perception

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 4100 KiB  
Article
Sustainable Production of Tomato Using Fish Effluents Improved Plant Growth, Yield Components, and Yield in Northern Senegal
by Andre A. Diatta, Anicet G. B. Manga, César Bassène, Cheikh Mbow, Martin Battaglia, Mariama Sambou, Emre Babur and Ömer Süha Uslu
Agronomy 2023, 13(11), 2696; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13112696 - 26 Oct 2023
Viewed by 1417
Abstract
Aquaculture and agriculture integration is essential for maximizing water and land productivity in arid and semi-arid regions. Thus, the increase in global water scarcity and the dual use of water for crop and fish production has the potential to optimize water use, dispose [...] Read more.
Aquaculture and agriculture integration is essential for maximizing water and land productivity in arid and semi-arid regions. Thus, the increase in global water scarcity and the dual use of water for crop and fish production has the potential to optimize water use, dispose of aquaculture wastes, provide additional nutrients to crops, and reduce inorganic fertilizer usage, thus maximizing farm productivity. This greenhouse study was conducted to determine the effects of fish effluents on the growth, yield parameters, and yield of tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.). The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design with six replications. The 13 treatments consisted of three irrigation water types (river water—control, Nile tilapia—Oreochromis niloticus, African sharptooth catfish—Clarias gariepinus), four fertilizers (chicken manure, cow manure, sheep manure; recommended rate of NPK—280 kg ha−1 of 10-10-20), and six mixed treatments with fish effluent and 50% of the applied rate of manure alone. Results showed that irrigation with C. gariepinus effluent increased the stem diameter by 21%, the number of flowers by 88%, the fruit number by 50%, the fruit diameter by 24%, the mean fruit weight by 34%, and total fruit weight of tomato by 96% compared to NPK treatments. These effects were more evident when C. gariepinus was mixed with poultry, cow, and sheep manures, which resulted in significantly greater values than recommended rates of NPK. The higher productivity observed from the combined use of C. gariepinus and manure treatments (133% increase, on average) compared to NPK treatments was related to the continuous supply of nutrients and the increase of yield parameters. Therefore, the combined use of C. gariepinus effluent and manure can be a viable alternative for smallholder farmers, for whom inorganic fertilizers are often neither affordable nor available. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recycling Agro-Food and Urban Wastes According the Circular Economy and Sustainability Paradigms)
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22 pages, 508 KiB  
Article
Saudi Zero Food Waste Certification: A Novel Approach for Food Waste Management in Saudi Arabia
by Abu Elnasr E. Sobaih
Agronomy 2023, 13(6), 1654; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13061654 - 20 Jun 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2662
Abstract
Saudi Arabia (SA) is categorised as one of the nations with the highest food waste globally. However, this rate of food waste encompasses a high risk to the economy, society and environment. The government has prioritised food security and environmental sustainability in its [...] Read more.
Saudi Arabia (SA) is categorised as one of the nations with the highest food waste globally. However, this rate of food waste encompasses a high risk to the economy, society and environment. The government has prioritised food security and environmental sustainability in its Saudi Vision 2030; hence, the government has developed some initiatives for food waste reduction. However, these efforts have not achieved the desired outcomes, as there is no evidence that food waste was reduced after such initiatives. The current research reports the results of the first phase of a wider study on food waste management (FWM), which has undertaken a novel approach towards FWM in food service organisations in SA by integrating the perspectives of stakeholders: customers, managers and academics specialised in food management/service. The results of in-depth interviews with key stakeholders identified the main causes of food waste in food service organisations. The findings confirmed that causes of food waste are all associated with each other and linked to either the absence of strategic and legal frameworks, consumer behaviour or poor management of food chains in food service organisations. Solutions for effective FWM were discussed with key stakeholders. The research showed that there is a need for an integrated approach for FWM in each sector where food waste is apparent such as food service organisations. Hence, the Saudi Zero Food Waste Certification has been introduced as a novel approach for managing food waste in food service organisations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recycling Agro-Food and Urban Wastes According the Circular Economy and Sustainability Paradigms)
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22 pages, 3399 KiB  
Article
Evaluating Sustainable Options for Valorization of Rice By-Products in Sri Lanka: An Approach for a Circular Business Model
by W. A. M. A. N. Illankoon, Chiara Milanese, A. K. Karunarathna, Kumuditha D. Hikkaduwa Epa Liyanage, A. M. Y. W. Alahakoon, Puhulwella G. Rathnasiri, Maria Cristina Collivignarelli and Sabrina Sorlini
Agronomy 2023, 13(3), 803; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13030803 - 09 Mar 2023
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2205
Abstract
Due to the significant quantities of waste generated by the Sri Lankan rice industry, circular bioeconomy methodologies were applied to examine value-adding entrepreneurial activities for rice industry by-products (RIB). The study was conceived after scouring the existing literature on agricultural waste management and [...] Read more.
Due to the significant quantities of waste generated by the Sri Lankan rice industry, circular bioeconomy methodologies were applied to examine value-adding entrepreneurial activities for rice industry by-products (RIB). The study was conceived after scouring the existing literature on agricultural waste management and interviewing experts in the field and the rice industry. In the first phase, the suitability of valorizing alternatives for RIB was considered via a multi-criteria decision-making method. Valorization options, such as biochar production, energy purposes, composting, and other activities, were evaluated using an analytical hierarchy process (AHP) based on four criteria, namely environmental, social, technical, and economic issues. The results indicated that the highest priority should be given to environmental, social, and economic considerations, with local priority vectors of 0.5887, 0.2552, and 0.0955, respectively. It was found that biochar production is the optimal valorization strategy for managing RIB in Sri Lanka. From these findings, the development of a sustainable business model for making biochar out of RIB was done based on commercial motivations and value addition in biochar manufacturing processes. The Business Model Canvas elements played a vital role in categorizing and interpreting the case study data. Though the RIB seems undervalued at present, it was found that as a direct result of environmental concerns, several stakeholders have developed RIB valorization with an emphasis on bioenergy generation and biochar production. Adequate subsidies (technology and knowledge), standard regulations, more collective actions for creating economies of scale, and marketing strategies (consumer awareness) are all necessary for the successful implementation of sustainable circular business models. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recycling Agro-Food and Urban Wastes According the Circular Economy and Sustainability Paradigms)
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15 pages, 1806 KiB  
Article
Consumer Behaviour Regarding Food Waste in Romania, Rural versus Urban
by Aurelia-Ioana Chereji, Irina-Adriana Chiurciu, Anca Popa, Ioan Chereji and Adina-Magdalena Iorga
Agronomy 2023, 13(2), 571; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13020571 - 16 Feb 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2476
Abstract
Reducing food waste is an important objective in order to raise awareness of the negative effects it produces. The lack of information regarding the efficient use of food will affect the environment and the health of each of us. The objective of the [...] Read more.
Reducing food waste is an important objective in order to raise awareness of the negative effects it produces. The lack of information regarding the efficient use of food will affect the environment and the health of each of us. The objective of the paper is to present the behaviour of Romanian consumers regarding food waste. By means of a semi-structured questionnaire administered to 267 consumers, the following aspects were investigated: the place where they serve meals, the preparation of meals at home, purchase preferences, the motivation for food waste, and selective collection. Consumption typologies identify a higher share of food waste in urban areas and a better use of food in rural areas. The people from rural areas ate more than 50% of their meals at home. The preferred location for procuring food was, by far, the supermarket or hypermarket in both urban and rural environments. Young people throw away more waste than older food consumers. Awareness about food waste is more accentuated in young adults, without a significant correlation to the area of origin. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recycling Agro-Food and Urban Wastes According the Circular Economy and Sustainability Paradigms)
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13 pages, 315 KiB  
Article
Replacing Agricultural Diesel Fuel with Biomethane from Agricultural Waste: Assessment of Biomass Availability and Potential Energy Supply in Piedmont (North-West Italy)
by Davide Assandri, Giorgia Bagagiolo, Eugenio Cavallo and Niccolò Pampuro
Agronomy 2022, 12(12), 2996; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12122996 - 29 Nov 2022
Viewed by 1619
Abstract
Agricultural and livestock wastes are an important resource for the production of renewable fuels such as biomethane, and the effective management of the components of supply chain, such as available biomass feedstock, are critical to the transition to a low-carbon circular economy. Considering [...] Read more.
Agricultural and livestock wastes are an important resource for the production of renewable fuels such as biomethane, and the effective management of the components of supply chain, such as available biomass feedstock, are critical to the transition to a low-carbon circular economy. Considering that more than half of the emissions (CO2eq) generated in agriculture come from the use of fossil fuels to power tractors and other agricultural machinery, replacing diesel fuel in tractors with biofuels produced within the agricultural supply chain could contribute to greenhouse gas emissions reduction and to energy self-sufficiency for the local agricultural sectors. This study evaluated, at the regional level (Piedmont—north-west Italy), the potential production of biomethane from local agricultural wastes (crop residues and livestock manure), the potential energy supply to power tractors and the potential CO2 emission reduction by replacing diesel fuel. Based on mean annual available agricultural wastes over the last seven years (2015–2021) in the Piedmont region, the annual potential biomethane yield of 910 × 106 m3 year−1 was estimated, equivalent to a thermal energy of 30.1 × 109 MJ year−1, which is 3.8 times higher than the energy requirements for the regional tractors’ fleet. The estimated potential CO2 emission reduction is about 93.8 t of CO2 year−1, corresponding to 16.8% potential reduction. The study demonstrates the potential of local agriculture to replace diesel fuel with biomethane from waste to meet energy needs and carbon neutrality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recycling Agro-Food and Urban Wastes According the Circular Economy and Sustainability Paradigms)
12 pages, 883 KiB  
Article
The Role of Social Interaction and Personal Characteristics in Affecting the Adoption of Compost from Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste in Italy
by Giorgia Bagagiolo, Lucia Vigoroso, Niccolò Pampuro and Eugenio Cavallo
Agronomy 2022, 12(2), 445; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12020445 - 10 Feb 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1781
Abstract
The composting process allows one to minimize quantities of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) disposed through landfills. Compost obtained from OFMSW is not yet widespread across all European countries, including Italy. Even though previous studies emphasized the role that social [...] Read more.
The composting process allows one to minimize quantities of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) disposed through landfills. Compost obtained from OFMSW is not yet widespread across all European countries, including Italy. Even though previous studies emphasized the role that social interaction and socio-demographic users’ characteristics may have toward the adoption of sustainable practices, to our knowledge, few studies have specifically addressed OFMSW compost. Considering the need to integrate the social perspective in sustainable agriculture literature, further research is required regarding the intention to adopt this organic product, especially among potential users. A questionnaire was used to investigate potential users’ level of interest in using OFMSW compost and their a priori perceptions on its fertilizing properties, if anyone ever suggested using OFMSW compost, as well as the participants’ socio-demographic characteristics. Fifty-eight participants were involved. The results demonstrated a significant association between education level and received suggestions from peer or social networks in the interest of adopting OFMSW compost. In addition, participants who received suggestions had higher odds of being highly interested in adopting OFMSW compost versus those who did not receive it. In conclusion, institutions, where formal knowledge has a place, and agricultural policy makers should be engaged with the aim to facilitate knowledge exchange and connections among different actors, supporting local-level initiatives. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recycling Agro-Food and Urban Wastes According the Circular Economy and Sustainability Paradigms)
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13 pages, 1163 KiB  
Article
Sustainable Production of Lignocellulolytic Enzymes in Solid-State Fermentation of Agro-Industrial Waste: Application in Pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima) Juice Clarification
by Priya Rana, Baskaran Stephen Inbaraj, Sushma Gurumayum and Kandi Sridhar
Agronomy 2021, 11(12), 2379; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11122379 - 24 Nov 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2166
Abstract
Valorization of agro-industrial waste through greener and biotechnological processes are promising approaches to minimize the generation of agro-industrial waste. Therefore, the study aimed to produce lignocellulolytic enzymes from agro-industrial waste under solid-state fermentation (SSF) conditions and study their application in the clarification of [...] Read more.
Valorization of agro-industrial waste through greener and biotechnological processes are promising approaches to minimize the generation of agro-industrial waste. Therefore, the study aimed to produce lignocellulolytic enzymes from agro-industrial waste under solid-state fermentation (SSF) conditions and study their application in the clarification of pumpkin juice. The SSF was performed with three different combinations of wheat bran + rice bran (WBRB), wheat bran + wheat straw (WBWS), and rice bran + wheat straw (RBWS) as dry solid substrates (1:1) using Fusarium oxysporum (MTCC 7229). The protein, carboxymethyl cellulase (CMCase), and xylanase contents ranged from 0.98–3.90 mg/g, 5.89–6.84 U/g substrate, and 10.08–13.77 U/g substrate, respectively in different agro-industrial waste as substrates (WBRB, WBWS, RBWS, and control). The increase in enzyme concentration (0.50–2.40%) added to pumpkin juice exhibited an increased juice yield (16.30–55.60%), reduced browning index (1.03–0.70), and an increase in clarity (5.31–13.77 %T), which was further confirmed by a total variance of 84.83% by principal component analysis. Thus, the low-cost lignocellulolytic enzymes can be produced from agro-industrial waste that might have applications in food and beverage industries. Hence, this approach could be used as a long-term sustainable and circular source to valorize agro-industrial waste towards the greener future and the preservation of ecosystems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recycling Agro-Food and Urban Wastes According the Circular Economy and Sustainability Paradigms)
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11 pages, 318 KiB  
Review
Why Should We Be Concerned with the Use of Spent Coffee Grounds as an Organic Amendment of Soils? A Narrative Review
by Sergio Pérez-Burillo, Ana Cervera-Mata, Alejandro Fernández-Arteaga, Silvia Pastoriza, José Ángel Rufián-Henares and Gabriel Delgado
Agronomy 2022, 12(11), 2771; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12112771 - 07 Nov 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4673
Abstract
Spent coffee grounds (SCG) are produced in massive amounts throughout the world as a bio-residue from coffee brewing. However, SCG are rich in carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, bioactive compounds and melanoidins, which are macromolecules with chelating properties. Additionally, SCG have showed potential applications in [...] Read more.
Spent coffee grounds (SCG) are produced in massive amounts throughout the world as a bio-residue from coffee brewing. However, SCG are rich in carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, bioactive compounds and melanoidins, which are macromolecules with chelating properties. Additionally, SCG have showed potential applications in several fields such as biotechnology (bioethanol, volatile aromatic compounds, carotenoids, fungi and enzymes), energy production (combustion, pyrolysis, torrefaction, gasification, hydrothermal carbonization) and environmental sciences (composting). This review will focus on the last of these applications. SCG improve soil quality by increasing their chemical, physicochemical, physical properties and biological fertility. However, SCG inhibit plant growth at very low concentrations (1%) due to i. the stimulation of microbial growth and consequent competition for soil nitrogen between soil microorganisms and plant roots; ii. the presence of phytotoxic compounds in SCG, such as polyphenols. The SCG transformations that have proven to eliminate these compounds are vermicomposting and pyrolysis at 400 °C. However, it has been pointed out by some studies that these compounds are responsible for the chelating properties of SCG, which makes their elimination not recommended. The use of SCG as biochelates has also been studied, generating a residue–micronutrient mixture for the biofortification of edible plants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recycling Agro-Food and Urban Wastes According the Circular Economy and Sustainability Paradigms)
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