Food waste valorisation: Assessing the effectiveness of collaborative research networks through the lenses of a COST action

The need for innovative approaches to solving the problem of food waste is widely recognised, considering its tight links with food security, energy and climate change challenges, as well as the potential for food waste to produce valuable chemicals, materials and fuels. The relevance of this problem at the European (and global) level is well documented by the growing number of networks involving researchers, producers and institutional actors. Little research has been conducted on the impact of EU-funded networking activities on enhancing knowledge transfer and facilitating joint research activities on food waste valorisation among academia and industry. Drawing on social network tools, the present study examines the emerging network structure and collaborative links of a specific COST Action – FWV for Sustainable Chemicals, Materials and Fuels (EUBis) – which encompassed more than 140 actors (universities, large and small firms and public and private research institutions). Using questionnaire data obtained from a large sample of participants of the EUBis Action, the research explores the dynamic evolution of the relations between pre-EUBis and during-EUBis participation in knowledge and joint research and project networks. The empirical investigation provides evidence that the EUBis Action improved collaboration among institutions (universities and industrial organisations), fostering the flow of knowledge and facilitating joint research and projects. This interesting finding emphasises the relevance of knowledge flow as a crucial process for creating value through research and innovation

Assessing the potential of biowaste for bioplastics production through social network analysis

The growing global population, matched with constraints imposed by the natural resources' system, entails either productivity growth (i.e., making more output with the same input) or developing new uses for waste (i.e., finding new sources of inputs among unused outputs). Biowaste emerged as a resource with a significant potential to be employed as a raw material for the production of chemicals, materials and fuels given its abundant volumes generated globally. This study aims at providing insights into the potential development of the bioplastics technological niche that uses secondary feedstock (biowaste) instead of dedicated crops and into the factors that may hinder the full development of this niche. Specifically, looking at the Italian bioplastics market, the following three research questions are addressed: (1) What are the structural characteristics of the Italian bioplastics network? (2) What is the social network architecture? (3) How does the network architecture affect the potential development of the bioplastics technological niche that uses a secondary feedstock? The empirical investigation provides evidence that the architectural structure of the Italian bioplastics producers network offers great opportunities for the development of a technological niche based on biowaste valorization. However, the system has shown to be weak especially as far as expectations are concerned, as these are generally low and, more critically, are low for those actors occupying central positions in the network. This shortcoming could jeopardize the niche development process, if no appropriate policy actions are undertaken. More specifically, this study could support decision makers in developing specific strategies to unlock the enormous potential of biowaste as well of the bioplastics sector by: (i) empowering knowledge creation and its diffusion and by (ii) supporting strategic collaboration schemes. For instance, policy measures could be introduced to the possibility to stimulate social learning as a driver of expectations. Finally, although this study addresses a single case study, the proposed methodology and the specific findings may pave the way for further investigations that consider stakeholders' behavior and what is needed in order to mobilize them to embark on bioplastics production projects on a commercial scale

Towards a sustainable forest-based bioeconomy in Italy: Findings from a SWOT analysis

This study aims at capturing, through a multi-level perspective, potential drivers and barriers of the forest sector in Italy, in order to gain an in-depth understanding of the conditions influencing the sector's transition towards a circular bioeconomy. On the basis of this understanding, it draws potential new strategies for an effective transition. To operationalize our theoretical approach, we employed the single case study method, drawing on an in-depth literature review and a SWOT analysis (i.e. analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) of the Italian forest sector, validated by expert interviews and a questionnaire survey. The results show that the most effective strategies for the transition are: improving environmental and forest planning tools by defining viable methods of circular management; promoting investment in forest infrastructure; supporting entrepreneurship programs for forest professionals; and enhancing innovative forest-based value chains. The diversity of the identified policy strategies provides evidence of the necessity for policy makers to go beyond a simple “best option” approach, given the system complexity of the forest sector

The Role of Social Responsibility in Supporting the Social Acceptance of Biomass Plants. Evidences from Italy

This paper highlights the importance for biomass plants of adopting Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as a strategy to favorite social acceptance. CSR consists on a set of activities including the collecting of information, related with the efforts undertaken by the firm regarding the improvement of human capital, environmental protection and the strengthening of relations with stakeholders. This information is at the basis of public documents, that are systematically disseminated, aimed at pursuing the positive effects in terms of higher firm reputation, leading to reducing transaction costs of the plant. The paper investigates on four study cases in Italy, where the major costs and benefits of the adoption of CSR are elicited in qualitative terms. The results shows that CSR has a low impact on the dialogue between the firm and the local community, but favorites the authorization process operated by the regional government. The adoption of various unrelated CSR initiative suggest that these are mainly aimed at obtaining benefits such as license to operate and reputation, but do not integrate in a more broad company strategy

The Impact of Financial Constraints on Biomass Production: A Firm Level Data Analysis

The present paper investigates the impact of financial constraints on the Italian biomass production by adopting a multi-level perspective approach. In particular, it explores to what extent (i) financial constraints at regime level and (ii) internal barriers at niche level hinder the biomass niche to enter the current fossil fuel based regime. Results highlight that the most critical external barriers which impede the biomass producers in securing finance are uncertainty about government policy and potential investors that do not have sufficient experience in the field of biomass while the most relevant internal barriers are represented by the lack of technical expertise perceived by potential investors and the excessive administrative burden of the Italian system. Keywords: biomass production; financial aspects; financin