Toward a circular economy in Italian agri-food: upstream partners in insect biorefineries
Abstract The insect biorefinery (IB) is central to recycling nutrients from food losses and waste (FLW) in an emerging circular bioeconomy approach. The sustainable leadership of the European insect industry and its integration into the bioeconomy depend on implementing symbiotic production models t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Agricultural and Food Economics |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40100-024-00336-4 |
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| author | Arianna Cattaneo Cecilia Padula Marco Meneguz Carola Mileto Silvia Barbero Sihem Dabbou |
| author_facet | Arianna Cattaneo Cecilia Padula Marco Meneguz Carola Mileto Silvia Barbero Sihem Dabbou |
| author_sort | Arianna Cattaneo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The insect biorefinery (IB) is central to recycling nutrients from food losses and waste (FLW) in an emerging circular bioeconomy approach. The sustainable leadership of the European insect industry and its integration into the bioeconomy depend on implementing symbiotic production models through site selection and partnerships. Only 8 studies, including 3 in the EU, have examined stakeholder acceptance. This pilot study is the first to focus on potential upstream symbiosis partners (USPs) in the EU, examining the factors that influence the willingness of potential USPs in suitable Italian locations to adopt IB. Preliminary analyses identified a final sample of 31 respondents who completed an online-survey divided into four sections. After data elaboration, a principal component analysis was conducted, considering 27 questions and their correlations with the first two principal components. The analysis revealed that the presence of internal research and development within the company, along with the company’s role in the supply chain and the seasonality of production, had a minor influence on explaining the variance of the data. Interestingly, company size was negatively correlated with the willingness to become part of the insect-rearing supply chain or receive information about this technology. On the contrary, interest in innovative production and self-management of by-products were strongly related. Finally, funding opportunities could positively influence both the Italian and EU contexts, encouraging innovative practices among small and medium-sized enterprises. In contrast, barriers to implementing insect farming include misinformation, anticipated negative media impacts on branding, and resistance to changing by-product management practices. This pilot study serves as a foundational exploration, providing insights into the acceptability of insect farming among potential USPs and offers valuable insights for future studies, thereby shaping the discourse on the acceptability and integration of insect farming within the circular bioeconomy. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-08f70c63f7b3490791d2bfe2bc1fcbe0 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2193-7532 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agricultural and Food Economics |
| spelling | doaj-art-08f70c63f7b3490791d2bfe2bc1fcbe02024-12-08T12:07:00ZengSpringerOpenAgricultural and Food Economics2193-75322024-12-0112112410.1186/s40100-024-00336-4Toward a circular economy in Italian agri-food: upstream partners in insect biorefineriesArianna Cattaneo0Cecilia Padula1Marco Meneguz2Carola Mileto3Silvia Barbero4Sihem Dabbou5Center Agriculture Food Environment (C3A), University of TrentoBEF Biosystems S.R.LBEF Biosystems S.R.LBEF Biosystems S.R.LDepartment of Architecture and DesignCenter Agriculture Food Environment (C3A), University of TrentoAbstract The insect biorefinery (IB) is central to recycling nutrients from food losses and waste (FLW) in an emerging circular bioeconomy approach. The sustainable leadership of the European insect industry and its integration into the bioeconomy depend on implementing symbiotic production models through site selection and partnerships. Only 8 studies, including 3 in the EU, have examined stakeholder acceptance. This pilot study is the first to focus on potential upstream symbiosis partners (USPs) in the EU, examining the factors that influence the willingness of potential USPs in suitable Italian locations to adopt IB. Preliminary analyses identified a final sample of 31 respondents who completed an online-survey divided into four sections. After data elaboration, a principal component analysis was conducted, considering 27 questions and their correlations with the first two principal components. The analysis revealed that the presence of internal research and development within the company, along with the company’s role in the supply chain and the seasonality of production, had a minor influence on explaining the variance of the data. Interestingly, company size was negatively correlated with the willingness to become part of the insect-rearing supply chain or receive information about this technology. On the contrary, interest in innovative production and self-management of by-products were strongly related. Finally, funding opportunities could positively influence both the Italian and EU contexts, encouraging innovative practices among small and medium-sized enterprises. In contrast, barriers to implementing insect farming include misinformation, anticipated negative media impacts on branding, and resistance to changing by-product management practices. This pilot study serves as a foundational exploration, providing insights into the acceptability of insect farming among potential USPs and offers valuable insights for future studies, thereby shaping the discourse on the acceptability and integration of insect farming within the circular bioeconomy.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40100-024-00336-4Insect biorefineryUpstream stakeholder acceptabilityInsect farmingCircular economyBy-products upcycling |
| spellingShingle | Arianna Cattaneo Cecilia Padula Marco Meneguz Carola Mileto Silvia Barbero Sihem Dabbou Toward a circular economy in Italian agri-food: upstream partners in insect biorefineries Agricultural and Food Economics Insect biorefinery Upstream stakeholder acceptability Insect farming Circular economy By-products upcycling |
| title | Toward a circular economy in Italian agri-food: upstream partners in insect biorefineries |
| title_full | Toward a circular economy in Italian agri-food: upstream partners in insect biorefineries |
| title_fullStr | Toward a circular economy in Italian agri-food: upstream partners in insect biorefineries |
| title_full_unstemmed | Toward a circular economy in Italian agri-food: upstream partners in insect biorefineries |
| title_short | Toward a circular economy in Italian agri-food: upstream partners in insect biorefineries |
| title_sort | toward a circular economy in italian agri food upstream partners in insect biorefineries |
| topic | Insect biorefinery Upstream stakeholder acceptability Insect farming Circular economy By-products upcycling |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40100-024-00336-4 |
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