Tecnologie innovative e utilizzo di materie prime seconde per l’accesso all’energia. Caso studio: comunità rurali in Kenya

Il presente lavoro analizza il caso studio di una comunità rurale del Kenya, localizzata nel distretto di Machakos (Iiani), per mezzo di strumenti qualitativi e quantitativi con l’obiettivo di mettere in evidenza le problematiche relative all’utilizzo da parte della popolazione di biomasse di origine legnosa in funzione della dimensione ambientale, sociale ed economica. Il modello DSPIR viene utilizzato per definire il problema secondo un metodo oggettivo, mentre il modello statistico della mediation analysis viene utilizzato per ottenere dei risultati che evidenzino i rapporti causali tra l’utilizzo delle biomasse di origine legnosa con le dimensioni dello sviluppo sostenibile. Come soluzione per la sostituzione delle biomasse di origine legnosa con residui agricoli ed agro-alimentari viene analizzato un biodigestore di tipo flessibile brevettato da un’azienda operante a Nairobi, in Kenya. L’innovazione tecnologica richiede un basso livello di tecnologia e bassi tempi di installazione per poter produrre l’energia necessaria a svolgere le mansioni domestiche nelle aree rurali. L’impianto contribuisce a migliorare l’accesso della popolazione a sistemi di smaltimento che di conseguenza apportano benefici anche alle condizioni igienico-sanitarie

Industrial symbiosis: a sustainable approach for territorial development through the reuse of biomass

The worldwide demand of raw materials is facing an exponential increase since the economic boom registered in the second post-war scenario. The energy and the manufacturing industries are strictly dependent on the employment of non-renewable resources in the transformation and production processes, by contributing to the improvement of greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere and to the loss of natural capital. With the aim of increasing the environmental preservation in terms of biodiversity and raw materials access, this study contributes to examine the benefits of the circular economy approach for the promotion of industrial symbiosis practices, based on the horizontal collaboration and cooperation. According to this approach, the waste of one company can become secondary raw materials for other companies operating in the same or even in different sectors, by implementing territorial integration and networks in the industrial system

Cabbage and fermented vegetables : From death rate heterogeneity in countries to candidates for mitigation strategies of severe COVID-19

Large differences in COVID-19 death rates exist between countries and between regions of the same country. Some very low death rate countries such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, or the Balkans have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods. Although biases exist when examining ecological studies, fermented vegetables or cabbage have been associated with low death rates in European countries. SARS-CoV-2 binds to its receptor, the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). As a result of SARS-CoV-2 binding, ACE2 downregulation enhances the angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT(1)R) axis associated with oxidative stress. This leads to insulin resistance as well as lung and endothelial damage, two severe outcomes of COVID-19. The nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) is the most potent antioxidant in humans and can block in particular the AT(1)R axis. Cabbage contains precursors of sulforaphane, the most active natural activator of Nrf2. Fermented vegetables contain many lactobacilli, which are also potent Nrf2 activators. Three examples are: kimchi in Korea, westernized foods, and the slum paradox. It is proposed that fermented cabbage is a proof-of-concept of dietary manipulations that may enhance Nrf2-associated antioxidant effects, helpful in mitigating COVID-19 severity.Peer reviewe

Nrf2-interacting nutrients and COVID-19 : time for research to develop adaptation strategies

There are large between- and within-country variations in COVID-19 death rates. Some very low death rate settings such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, the Balkans and Africa have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods whose intake is associated with the activation of the Nrf2 (Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2) anti-oxidant transcription factor. There are many Nrf2-interacting nutrients (berberine, curcumin, epigallocatechin gallate, genistein, quercetin, resveratrol, sulforaphane) that all act similarly to reduce insulin resistance, endothelial damage, lung injury and cytokine storm. They also act on the same mechanisms (mTOR: Mammalian target of rapamycin, PPAR gamma:Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, NF kappa B: Nuclear factor kappa B, ERK: Extracellular signal-regulated kinases and eIF2 alpha:Elongation initiation factor 2 alpha). They may as a result be important in mitigating the severity of COVID-19, acting through the endoplasmic reticulum stress or ACE-Angiotensin-II-AT(1)R axis (AT(1)R) pathway. Many Nrf2-interacting nutrients are also interacting with TRPA1 and/or TRPV1. Interestingly, geographical areas with very low COVID-19 mortality are those with the lowest prevalence of obesity (Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia). It is tempting to propose that Nrf2-interacting foods and nutrients can re-balance insulin resistance and have a significant effect on COVID-19 severity. It is therefore possible that the intake of these foods may restore an optimal natural balance for the Nrf2 pathway and may be of interest in the mitigation of COVID-19 severity

Innovation technologies and biomass processing to facilatate the energy access in rural communities. Analysis of Kenyan municipalities

The traditional concept of development concerns the human actions that have modified the environment to create a space in which live adequately according to his needs. This development paradigm has begun to waver namely for the negative implications and damages for the environment and for the ecosystem, such as serious phenomena of global pollution and scarcity of resources available for future generations. The result is a more awareness on the importance of a correct management of natural resources and a review of production and consumption patterns, elements that represent the starting point for a correct economic and social development. In the last decades, human activities have led to negative output in many areas, for instance irrational use of renewable and non-renewable resources, climatic alterations, imbalances in natural ecosystems, air pollution, soil and water resources caused by chemical agents and organic residues. The consequences of these actions are harmful for different subjects, not only human beings but also environment and ecosystems. The negative effects of this economic model affect indifferently developed and developing countries. If we focus our attention on developing countries, we note that despite being very rich in natural resources and depending on these resources for the internal economy and growth, at local level, multiple environmental and social problems are registered. In fact, the irrational use of natural resources determines an environmental degradation that frequently involves an intertwining of other factors of underdevelopment such as poverty, rapid demographic growth, and social inequalities. An accelerated development not suitable and unsustainable causes itself a rapid degradation of the environment and the dramatic destruction of the same natural resources with negative consequences both for the well-being and for the health of the population. At the end of the Second World War, industrial development was rapid and overwhelming, but also full of imbalances and limits. Innovation of technology and processes have been fundamental for the process of development and growth, heading the maximum level never registered before (Leaning, 1993). From the other side, the investment on fields and agriculture registered a decrease and the abandonment of countryside lead to phenomena of urban drift with consequences of underdevelopment and concentration of population in urban neighbourhood. The imbalances pilot to significant increase in private consumption, with consequent stagnation in public consumption; imbalance between the progress of some sectors or economic activities with respect to the congenital backwardness in others; inability to bridge the gap between North and South. In the 1960s started to be manifested the first cases of pollution, deriving precisely from the huge and unruly technological progress. The spread and blind confidence that market and growth were limitless allowed to conduct investments without taking into account any environmental aspect and the unlimited exploitation of natural resources was normally accepted as a price to be paid to nourish economic development and provide employment. At this time of the history, environment had only an instrumental value and exploitation of natural resources was conducted without limits. With the emergence of the first economic crises linked to the problems of scarcity of natural resources, confidence in unlimited growth began to be unreal and defined the first political crisis at international levels. Almost immediately, was realized from international community that a common policy was needed for a new model of development to reconcile economic growth and fair distribution of resources. This new philosophy of conceiving the economy has begun to take hold since the end of the sixties thanks to the initiative of international conferences on the topic of development, linked to reduce and consider the natural systems to collapse. Economic growth in itself is not enough to create development: development is real only if it improves the quality of life in a lasting way.

Digital services for a new model of sustainable mobility

Nowadays the use of technology is increasing in our society, leading to an evolution in the consumers’ behaviour and opening new frontiers in the communication modalities. Transportation sector is pervaded by this progress: new models of mobility are rising, mainly connected to the preeminent role of technology. Sharing economy is the new aspect of future society, focusing the attention on the goods’ distribution and allocation. This study looks at the economic, environmental and social benefit of this new approach, considering the lack of policies to regulate this phenomenon

Bioenergia da rifiuti organici: il caso studio di una azienda agro-zootecnica

Nel presente lavoro verrà analizzato un sistema produttivo in cui i rifiuti del processo di produzione di un'impresa operante nell'industria agro-alimentare vengono reinseriti all'interno di un ciclo virtuoso. Verrà esaminato il processo di cogenerazione di energia derivante dall'utilizzo della biomassa relativa ai prodotti di scarto della produzione agricola e zootecnica e saranno esplicate le analisi relative ai costi dell'investimento, ai ricavi della vendita energetica ed infine verrà eseguito un rapporto tra costi e benefici per valutare l'utilità e l'efficacia dell'investimento. Sarà in seguito esaminata l'utilità ambientale e sociale derivante dal processo di codigestione e cogenerazione.In this paper, a system where waste is reintegrated into a virtuous economic cycle will be analyzed. The production process of a firm operating in the agro-alimentary industry and the process of energy cogeneration by using the biomass generated from agricultural and livestock production will also be analyzed. Furthermore, the economic aspects will be analyzed by examining the investment costs, the revenues of energy sales and the cost/benefit analysis, in order to evaluate the usefulness and effectiveness of the investment. Finally, the environmental and social utility resulting from the co-digestion and cogeneration process will be investigated

Economic and environmental evaluation of a rural biogas system.

This study analyses an agro-zootechnical system based on biomass. The focus is an assessment of the economics and environmental variables in order to underline the importance of waste materials. The biomass become a new raw material in a new productive process. Design/methodology/approach: The company analysed is in the Italian territory and owns a biomass cogeneration plant since the year 2012. The system provides the generation of energy for 2.052 MWh per year, which is translated in revenues for a value of about € 500.000,00. Findings: The company studied is an example of circular economy because the valorisation of the organic wastes contribute to the energy produced with renewable resources, by reducing the C02 emissions in the atmosphere. Originality/value: the study defines the importance of organic wastes reuse in a rural system

The cosmetics industry: market evolution and costumer behaviours

The expectations of today’s consumers are constantly evolving, and nowadays the cosmetics industry has become an essential component in ensuring quality of life and well-being, especially in the most developed countries. Over the years, consumer needs have changed and thanks to the process of certification, consumers are better informed about the presence of contaminants in the products they buy and about their consequences for human health and the environment. In the food and cosmetics industries, consumers have become more sensitive regarding ethics, paying more attention to animal welfare and fair trade labels (Jeffries 2013). To meet ever changing consumer demands, science and innovation together with the responsible use of resources, has seen the implementation of best practices in the cosmetics supply chain (Pereira de Carvalho and Barbieri 2012) by promoting quality and safety consciousness as part of a sustainable and integrated vision. This study examines a random sample of women with the aim of analyzing the key variables that influence the process of purchasing sustainable cosmetics. The theoretical model is based on exogenous variables related to the qualities of the ingredients in cosmetics to determine the relationship between the purchasing process and environmental awareness in the promotion of sustainable consumption in this sector. The results lead to an analysis of the biological cosmetics sector and its future scenarios related to customers’ willingness to pay for sustainability

The employment of sustainable technologies for waste biomass conversion process: a case study

The aim of this paper is to analyse a ciclic system in which natural wastes are reintegrated in a new economic model. It will be analysed a feasibility study of a firm operating in Italy, in the agribusiness industry, which use for the energy cogeneration the biomass generated from the agricultural and livestock production. We will focus also on the economic aspects by examining the investment costs, the revenues of energy sales and the cost/benefit analysis, in order to evaluate the investment usefulness and effectiveness. Finally, it will be investigated the environmental and social utility resulting from the co-digestion and cogeneration processes