Assessment of economic viability and production costs for the innovative microfiltered digestate.

This paper assesses the economic viability of the production process of an innovative form of digestate known as "microfiltered digestate", suitable for use as a fertilizer in driplines for permanent crops. A Break-Even Analysis was performed to determine the Break-Even Point which identifies the minimum quantity of products necessary to cover production costs at a certain selling price. Our results show that the production of microfiltered digestate provides positive economic viability for anaerobic digestion managers, providing them with an attractive market outlet and, at the same time, a new form of income. The experimental study was stated in Sicily, but it is replicable in any territorial context with anaerobic digestion plants. The results are in line with the principles of circular economy and are very current with reference to the use of organic fertilizers instead of chemical ones.

Impact of Covid-19 on Household Food Waste: The Case of Italy.

Covid-19 has significantly affected people's food purchasing and consumption habits. Fears of disruptions in the food supply chain have caused an increase in the quantity and type of food bought by households. However, increases in food purchases could give rise to food waste with negative ramifications for the environment in terms of greenhouse emissions and groundwater pollution. To assess whether household food waste has changed during Covid-19 lockdown, we conducted a nationwide survey of household food purchasers in Italy. Although the amount of food purchases increased during the lockdown, our results show that food waste actually decreased as people mainly bought more non-perishable food. Interestingly, concerns about the impact that the pandemic could have on the waste management system and the desire not to add pressure to the waste management system are key drivers of decreased food waste in Italy during the pandemic. Our findings seem to suggest that Italian consumers are developing a new level of awareness about food waste with potential positive impacts on the environment in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and groundwater pollution.