Prospective life cycle assessment models were developed and applied at the laboratory and industrial scale with the aim to evaluate the environmental burdens associated with the LimoFish process used to produce the fish oil "AnchoiOil", the new organic fertilizer "AnchoisFert" or biogas (by means of anaerobic digestion) after treatment of anchovy fillet leftovers (AnLeft) with agro-solvent d-limonene. Potential impacts for climate change and freshwater eutrophication were estimated at 29.1 kg CO2 eq/kg AnLeft and 1.7E- 07 kg PO4 eq/kg AnLeft at laboratory scale, and at 1.5 kg CO2 eq/kg AnLeft and 2.2E- 07 kg PO4 eq/kg AnLeft at industrial scale. Electricity consumption is the main contributor to the environmental impact of the process and plays a significant role in the production of d-limonene, for which cold pressing extraction would reduce the related impacts by ~ 70 %. The use of the solid by-product as organic fertilizer or input to anaerobic digestion would provide additional environmental benefits to the process. The LimoFish process is a successful example of a low impacting strategy to reduce the demand for natural resources and maximize the application of the circular economy principles in the fishing industry.

Sustainable agricultural practices that enhance soil fertility and increase its capacity for carbon sequestration are increasingly needed. This study evaluates two types of sheep wool residues (SWRs)--carbonized (black wool, BW) and non-carbonized (white wool, WW) to enhance soil fertility and act as a N-source. The two SWRs were tested on two plant species, in two pot experiments: ornamental sunflower on soil mixtures with each of SWR types at different concentrations (0, 0.5, 1, and 2% w/w), and maize on BW- or WW-soil mixture (1% w/w) and supplementary N fertilization (0, 50, and 100% of recommended N rates). In sunflower, with the exception of WW at 2%, all SWRs-soil mixtures increased plant growth and biomass production. Lower SWRs concentrations enhanced the growth rate at an initial stage, and in general, BW provided optimal biomass, and flower yield. In maize, the SWRs (1%), especially BW, even without N-fertilization, were beneficial for plant physiological behavior and biomass production. High mineral N-fertilization (100% N with BW1%- or WW1%-soil mixture) resulted in lower biomass than the other BW-treatments. The results highlighted the efficacy of BW on biomass production for both species growing in a sandy-loam soil, and for maize, no need for further mineral N-fertilization.

Many studies have confirmed the validity of plant cover and organic farming in ameliorating soil quality. The goal of this study was to investigate the efficiency of rehabilitation practices in a degraded soil ecosystem consisting of: (i) organic or inorganic fertilization; and (ii) presence or absence of almond trees. The experiments were carried out for 2years in the South of Italy in three fields characterized by different slope (0%, 2%, and 6%). Each field was split up into two parts, one assigned to organic fertilization and the other assigned to mineral fertilization, and planted with almond trees using GF677 or Franco rootstocks. The results showed that the organic fertilization, particularly in the presence of the Franco rootstock, resulted more effective in increasing soil organic matter content and microbial activity especially in the 0% and 2% slopes. However, in the 6% slope, where a lower soil metabolism was observed, an improvement of chemical and biochemical soil properties was generally evident for both fertilization systems. The Franco rootstock improved soil quality and maintaining a good production, whereas the GF677 has exploited more soil resources, resulting in a higher growth and yield; therefore, the use of almond tree with Franco rootstock associated with organic matter application is a useful practice in order to preserve soil quality and to rehabilitate degraded soils.