Product-oriented environmental management system (POEMS): a sustainable management framework for the food industry

Abstract: POEMS is a new tool designed to bring together traditional environmental management systems and tools oriented to the environmental evaluation of products. The aim of this paper is to present the preliminary results of the Eco-Management for Food Project (PRIN No. 2008TXFBYT) co-funded by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research that has the purpose to design and implement a POEMS framework for the agri-food industry in which: 1. the underlying basis is an Integrated Quality and Environmental Management System..

LCI preliminary results of in the sicilian durum wheat pasta chain production

Abstract: Pasta is still the most characteristic Italian food and, in fact, it is always present in the Mediterranean diet. This study points out the preliminary results obtained through the application of the Life Cycle Inventory Analysis (LCI) on the dried pasta production. It has been analyzed the main environmental impacts caused by a small farm industry situated in Floridia (Sicily) and whose managing staff plays a particular attention on the environment. For this purpose it has been applied the LCI to exploit wisely the available resources, to reduce the power consumption and to limit the environmental impact of the entire production cycle..

Gliotransmission by Prostaglandin E2: A Prerequisite for GnRH Neuronal Function?

Over the past four decades it has become clear that prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a phospholipid-derived signaling molecule, plays a fundamental role in modulating the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neuroendocrine system and in shaping the hypothalamus. In this review, after a brief historical overview, we highlight studies revealing that PGE2 released by glial cells such as astrocytes and tanycytes is intimately involved in the active control of GnRH neuronal activity and neurosecretion. Recent evidence suggests that hypothalamic astrocytes surrounding GnRH neuronal cell bodies may respond to neuronal activity with an activation of the erbB receptor tyrosine kinase signaling, triggering the release of PGE2 as a chemical transmitter from the glia themselves, and, in turn, leading to the feedback regulation of GnRH neuronal activity. At the GnRH neurohemal junction, in the median eminence of the hypothalamus, PGE2 is released by tanycytes in response to cell–cell signaling initiated by glial cells and vascular endothelial cells. Upon its release, PGE2 causes the retraction of the tanycyte end-feet enwrapping the GnRH nerve terminals, enabling them to approach the adjacent pericapillary space and thus likely facilitating neurohormone diffusion from these nerve terminals into the pituitary portal blood. In view of these new insights, we suggest that synaptically associated astrocytes and perijunctional tanycytes are integral modulatory elements of GnRH neuronal function at the cell soma/dendrite and nerve terminal levels, respectively

Implementation of guidelines for eco-labelling in the agri-food smes: the sicilian pistachio sector

Abstract: This paper represents the practical implementation of some guidelines developed in the context of a published book entitled “Product-Oriented Environmental Management System (POEMS). Improving Sustainability and Competitiveness in the Agri- Food Chain with Innovative Environmental Management Tools”. Nowadays, companies show growing interest in the most suitable instrument of environmental communication for the characteristics of their products (and the related sector) could be. This aspect becomes particularly important in the agri-food compartment where the products features are the result of the interaction among very different subsystems, from the farming to the transformation and marketing processes. Over time, in this sector, a huge number of voluntary environmental labelling schemes systems, used as instruments of environmental communication, have sprung up. Consequently it becomes extremely difficult for the operators to choose the most suitable label for their needs. In this context these guidelines were established with the aim of representing an innovative tool which, through the evaluation of key aspects of the environmental impacts of a product, can support the Small and Medium sizes enterprises (SMEs) in their choice of the most suitable environmental label for their own product; they can also enhance their communication strategies and their visibility in the market. The company chosen for carrying out the implementation of these guidelines belongs to the Sicilian pistachio industrial sector and it is typical for its size and market within the Sicilian economic system. About 90% of the total Italian Pistachio area is concentrated in a few territories of Eastern Sicily, mainly located in the province of Catania (Bronte and Adrano)

Life cycle assessment interpretation and improvement of the Sicilian artichokes production

This paper presents the results obtained from the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the production of Sicilian artichokes (Cynara scolymus) with the aim of reducing impacts, interpreting the results, suggesting possible improvements and enriching the sustainability knowledge already existing in the agro food field. Artichokes represent one of the excellent Italian agricultural products even if still not well-known and not appreciated despite their nutritional and functional quality. According to FAOSTAT (2013) data, Italy is the world leader in artichokes production, grown mainly in the central and southern regions of Italy, in particular in Sicily, Apulia and Sardinia. In particular, among all the Italian regions, Sicily, which is highly suited for this type of cultivation, is ranked first in terms of quantity produced: the reason for this lies in the excellent combination of climate and geological conformation of the soils. The study was conducted in accordance with the ISO standards 14040 and 14044 (2006), with the functional unit of 1 ha of land and, as the system boundaries being the phases of: pre-implantation preparation of the field; artichoke implantation; and harvesting. The most impacting phases are those related with the consumption of fuel and fertilizers as well as with the use of the PVC pipes for irrigation. Possible improvements could be the use of methanol instead of the naphtha (reduction of the total damage of about 13%) and the possibility of recycling the PVC pipes once the field is dismantled (furthermore reduction of the damage of about 3%)

Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) analysis of the Sicilian artistic and traditional ceramics as a tool for sustainable manufacturing

In the last few decades, greater attention is being paid by the Italian industrial ceramics sector to the environmental impacts related to ceramics production cycle and many companies have acquired voluntary environmental certifications (ISO 14001 or EMAS) or labeling (Ecolabel or EPD). This is not the case with the artistic ceramics sector in which few companies are certified. One of the most common and used tool for evaluating the environmental impact of products is the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology. This paper presents the preliminary results from a Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) analysis of the artistic ceramics sector in Caltagirone (Italy). Representative life cycle inventories are essential for any good quality LCA. They represent the fundamental blocks for compiling the full LCA of the ceramics production process, hence promoting environmental sustainability

Environmental assessment of the citrus fruit production in Sicily using LCA

Citrus production is one of the most important sectors of the Sicilian agriculture. In particular, Sicilian orange production is of the best quality producing mainly pigmented or blood oranges (cvv. Tarocco, Moro and Sanguinello). No other region in the Mediterranean area or on the American Continent produces, on a large scale, blood oranges

LCA as a tool for the environmental assessment of a pre-cast concrete shed : part 1 : Input data inventory analysis

The buildings and construction sector is one the most important economic sectors all over the world but, at the same time, one of the most pollutant emitting and resource demanding. This study focuses on the analysis of the entire main input inventory data used for assessing the environmental impacts linked to the life cycle of a pre-cast concrete shed: great importance was given to the use of on-site collected specific data which was carefully verified for assuring its quality and reliability. The study was conducted in accordance with the ISO standards 14040 and 14044 (2006), with the aim of qualifying and quantifying the resources, the materials and the energy demand for the shed construction, use and end of life phases. The study results show that for the four phases taken into account in the system boundaries (production of the raw materials, construction of the shed, use of the shed and end-of-life of the shed) the most inventories are in the shed construction phase because of the huge amount of materials, fuels and resources such as concrete, steel, electrical energy and water. Other inventories are related: to the use phase, for the huge consumption of electrical energy for indoor heating and cooling; to the maintenance phase, for the number of units, such as fixtures and power plant, which are to be replaced; and to the end-of-life phase for the number of data needed for modelling the shed disassembly

A huggable, mobile robot for developmental disorder interventions in a multi-modal interaction space

We propose a new emotional, huggable, mobile, and configurable robot (Teo), which can address some of the still open therapeutic needs in the treatment of Developmental Disability (DD). Teo has been designed in partnership with a team of DD specialists, and it is meant to be used as an efficient and easy-to-use tool for caregivers. Teo is integrated with virtual worlds shown on large displays or projections and with external motion sensing devices to support various forms of full-body interaction and to engage DD persons in a variety of play activities that blend the digital and physical world and can be fully customized by therapists to meet the requirements of each single subject. Exploratory studies have been performed at two rehabilitation centres to investigate the potential of our approach. The positive results of these studies pinpoint that our system endeavors promising opportunities to offer new forms of interventions for DD people

Improving quality in school canteens: “Un fiore in mensa” (A Flower in canteen) project from ATS Val Padana (Italy)

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