1,721,002 research outputs found
Hidden flows assessment in the agri-food sector: Evidence from the Italian beef system
Full text linkPurpose – The study proposes Material Flow Analysis (MFA) methodology as a tool to measure and qualify
food waste in the Italian beef supply chain in each stage of the food supply chain, from farm to fork. In
particular, the authors attempt to: (1) measure resources consumption and waste generation toward companies’
and policymakers’ sustainable evaluations; (2) enhance consumers’ education in the field of agri-food resilience
and sustainability.
Design/methodology/approach – MFA is applied to the entire Italian sector of beef consumed as packaged
fresh product in 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic. The analysis regards bovine, which represent roughly
one-third of the national meat flow. To collect data, bottom-up and top-down mixed approach is applied.
Subsequently, MFA results are used to calculate the wastage-related losses in terms of embedded natural
resources (e.g. water, energy).
Findings – In 2020, it results that the Italian meat industry slaughtered more than 1.15 Mt of bovine to produce
approximately 0.29 Mt of fresh meat, 0.69 Mt of by-products and over 0.015 Mt of food waste at households,
while 0.15 Mt of beef meat is destined to catering services and food industry (out-of-boundaries). In terms of
hidden natural resources, it emerged that, on average, more than 94bn m3 of water, approximately 101,000 TJ of
energy and over 11,500 t of PET and PE trays are required to sustain the entire beef system.
Originality/value – This research is one of the few studies proposing MFA methodology as a tool to measure
food waste and hidden associated flows in the agri-food sector. This analysis shows its utility in terms of
natural resources (water, energy, materials) and waste quality/quantity evaluation, hidden flows accounting
and development of new educational strategies toward food waste minimization and sustainability at
household consumption
Global warming potential of food waste through the Life Cycle Assessment: An analytical review
No full textFood loss and waste represent an increasing concern under social, economic and environmental perspective, either in developed or developing realities. It is estimated that more than 1.3 billion tons of food waste are generated along the whole food supply chain, from agricultural to final consumption stages, with associated environmental impacts estimated in approximately 3.3 Gigatons of CO2 equivalent per year (6% of total anthropogenic greenhouse gases emissions). Indeed, food waste issue has been accounted among the 17 Sustainable Development Goals in terms of responsible production and consumption, with the aim of halving per capita global food waste and reduce food losses by 2030. The present paper, through a systematic, analytical and configurative review on food waste global warming potential, focuses on the role of Life Cycle Assessment and its related opportunities and challenges along upstream, core and downstream stages, considering at the same time the challenges embedded within alternative disposal technologies. Through the choice of 16 different research string and the selection of 33 papers out of more than 2000 articles between 2011 and 2021, the authors highlight the environmental impacts associated to food waste with regards to: (a) entire food baskets; (b) specific food commodities; (c) food service and households' experiences; (d) diverse disposal alternatives (e.g., anaerobic digestion, incineration, landfill), addressing future research and suitable opportunities to reach national and international sustainable goals
Material Flow Analysis in The Agri-Food Sector: Evidence from The Italian Beef Supply System
No full text
L'industria del bioetanolo in Italia
No full textInterest trend in bio-ethanol easily matches crude oil market trend particularly in countries where endogenous no-renewable sources of energy are scarce. Increasing and generalized discussion over the restraint of energy sources and their environmental problems is currently more and more addressing new energy policies to a sustainable development. In this context, the role of renewable energy sources becomes almost strategic mainly considering bio-fuels (biodiesel and bioethanol) suitable for transportation sector, one of main no-renewable energy sources consumers and one of the principal cause of CO2 emissions. This paper will analyse Italian bioethanol industry development, evaluating all more convenient local cultivations from the economic and environmental point of view
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