Mapping Food Industry Side-Streams in Italy: A Quantitative Estimation and Valorization Framework for Major Agri-Food By-Products
Source abstract
Abstract
The agri-food sector generates significant quantities of by-products and waste biomass, representing both an environmental challenge and an opportunity for resource recovery within a circular bioeconomy. This study developed a decision-support framework for the sustainable valorization of major residues from the Italian agri-food sector. Following a Material Flow Analysis (MFA) of multiple Italian agri-food supply chains, tomato and grape supply chains were selected as representative case studies because they generated the largest quantities of valorizable by-products among the agri-food sectors evaluated, namely tomato pomace and grape marc. MFA based on FAOSTAT and PRODCOM data (2019–2023) was combined with a literature review to assess biomass availability and physicochemical characteristics. The analysis identified tomato pomace and grape marc as the predominant residues. Tomato pomace showed high moisture content (63.34%), balanced organic composition, and a favorable C/N ratio, supporting its suitability for anaerobic digestion with an average biomethane potential (BMP) of 0.143 m3 CH4/kg TVS. Conversely, grape marc exhibited a carbon-rich lignocellulosic structure, with a carbon content of 47.67%, C/N ratio of 24.73, and BMP of 0.195 m3 CH4/kg TVS, favoring thermochemical conversion pathways, particularly pyrolysis. The framework also highlights the importance of cascading strategies, prioritizing the recovery of high-value compounds, and pretreatment approaches to improve biomass conversion efficiency. Overall, this approach supports optimized resource recovery and sustainable agri-food waste management.
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Affiliations
Department of Sustainable Food Process, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Emilia Parmense 84, 29122 Piacenza, Italy
BioDNA Research Center for Biodiversity and Ancient DNA, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Emilia Parmense 84, 29122 Piacenza, Italy
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