A customized multi-cycle model for measuring the sustainability of circular pathways in agri-food supply chains.

Circular economy (CE) is claimed to be a promising pathway to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but a reliable metric is needed to validate closed-loop strategies by measuring sustainability performances together with the degree of circularity. A significant contribution is offered by Life Cycle (LC) scholars in terms of methodological advances and operational tools for different sectors, also those more complex such as the agro-industrial systems that encompass biological and anthropogenic variables at different scales. However, to date, LC methodologies have not yet answered how to model the complexity of circular pathways.

Increasing the Content of Olive Mill Wastewater in Biogas Reactors for a Sustainable Recovery: Methane Productivity and Life Cycle Analyses of the Process.

Anaerobic codigestion of olive mill wastewater for renewable energy production constitutes a promising process to overcome management and environmental issues due to their conventional disposal. The present study aims at assessing biogas and biomethane production from olive mill wastewater by performing biochemical methane potential tests. Hence, mixtures containing 0% (blank), 20% and 30% olive mill wastewater, in volume, were experimented on under mesophilic conditions.

Highly efficient and automated extraction of DNA from human remains using a modified EZ1 protocol.

Bones and teeth often represent the only sources of DNA available for identifying human remains. DNA in bones and teeth is generally better preserved than that in soft tissues because of the presence of hard connective tissue with a high level of calcium. Because of the extensive mineralisation, the choice of an efficient DNA extraction procedure is important to minimise the sampling of a high level of minerals and to remove polymerase chain reaction (PCR) inhibitors.

Harvesting system sustainability in Mediterranean olive cultivation: Other principal cultivar.

In the olive production sector, which is increasingly expanding beyond the borders of the Mediterranean basin, harvesting is the most demanding phase, from both an economic and organisational point of view. Traditional olive orchards are still predominant, with centuries-old and large plants, and are characterised by the gradual ripening of drupes and irregular planting patterns. Even though the structural conversion of these olive orchards into more modern cultivations may be difficult owing to their historical, monumental, and landscaping importance, as well as the existing legal restrictions, supporting a "modernisation" process aimed at mechanising the main farming operations remains a priority.

A Life Cycle Perspective to Assess the Environmental and Economic Impacts of Innovative Technologies in Extra Virgin Olive Oil Extraction.

Advances in the adoption of technological innovations represent a great driver to improve the competitiveness of the Italian extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) industry. This work assesses the efficiency of an innovative extraction plant (with low oxidative impact, heating of paste before malaxation and a special decanter that avoids the final vertical centrifugation) in terms of oil yield and quality, and economic and environmental impacts. Economic and environmental impacts were evaluated by using both life cycle costing and life cycle assessment methodologies.

Life cycle assessment of olive oil: A case study in southern Italy.

The paper describes the results of a specific LCA based analysis of the production of olive oil in the region of Calabria, in southern Italy. The goal of the study is to assess the energy and environmental impacts of different scenarios involving conventional and organic cultivations, plains and hills cultivations and involving different operating techniques. The study also aims at assessing the share of each life cycle step on the total of energy and environmental impacts.

Harvesting system sustainability in Mediterranean olive cultivation.

The mechanization of farming operation plays an important role in improving the profitability of the agricultural sector by increasing work productivity and reducing production costs. However, the new challenges of agriculture also include the environmental issues. The choice between different alternatives to perform a determined agricultural practice should be based on reliable information, considering technical, economic and environmental aspects.

Shelf life extension as solution for environmental impact mitigation: A case study for bakery products.

Over the last years, increasing attention has been paid to environmental concerns related to food production and potential solutions to this issue. Among the different strategies being considered to reduce the impact food production has on the environment, only moderate has been paid to the extension of shelf life; a longer shelf life can reduce food losses as well as the economic and environmental impacts of the distribution logistics. The aim of this study is to assess the environmental performance of whole-wheat breadsticks with extended shelf lives and to evaluate whether the shelf-life extension is an effective mitigation solution from an environmental point of view.

Life cycle tools combined with multi-criteria and participatory methods for agricultural sustainability: Insights from a systematic and critical review.

Life cycle (LC) methodologies have attracted a great interest in agricultural sustainability assessments, even if, at the same time, they have sometimes been criticized for making unrealistic assumptions and subjective choices. To cope with these weaknesses, Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) and/or participatory methods can be used to balance and integrate different sustainability dimensions. The purpose of this study is to highlight how life cycle approaches were combined with MCDA and participatory methods to address agricultural sustainability in the published scientific literature.

Social life cycle assessment and participatory approaches: A methodological proposal applied to citrus farming in Southern Italy.

Unlabelled: Recently, Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) has been developed under the methodological framework of Life Cycle Thinking (LCT) to evaluate the social impacts that emerge during the overall life cycle of a product or service. There is not yet a standardized methodology for S-LCA as there is for environmental LCA (eLCA), due to the nature of social impacts that do not depend only on the processes themselves, but also on the behavior and context of actors (manufactures, consumers, local community members, etc.).

Genetic study of 11 Y-STRs in the populations of Reggio Calabria, Catanzaro, Cosenza (Calabria--South of Italy).

The ability to identify male-specific DNA renders Y-chromosomal STR systems an invaluable help in cases of rape, other sexual assault as well as in kinship testing. The "PowerPlex Y System" is a recent kit by Promega, that co-amplifies the repeat regions of 11 Y-STRs loci. In the present study, we analyzed the allelic distribution of Y-STRs loci in around 300 unrelated males belonging to the three populations of Calabria region.