The potential of Industrial Ecology in agri-food clusters (AFCs): A case study based on valorisation of auxiliary materials

The location of agricultural activities in favourable geographic areas has led to the development of local agglomerations of companies, recognised as agri-food clusters (AFCs). AFCs are characterised by typical environmental problems such as changes in land use, CO2 emissions, energy and water consumption, and chemical pollution. Recent technological changes in the agri-food industry have influenced the economic and social development of AFCs towards progressive industrialization. Such changes have also been the source of new environmental problems, such as those related to the large-scale use and disposal of auxiliary materials. Industrial Ecology (IE) proposes approaches and applied solutions to reduce the environmental impacts and improve the competitiveness of production activities. Major applications of IE in AFCs currently involve the valorisation of animal and vegetable by-products and scraps. Further improvements can be achieved by adopting IE-based solutions focused on auxiliary material wastes. This article analyses the potential development of IE-based approaches in a representative Italian AFC. Empirical evidence shows that efficient solutions can be implemented through material substitution, repair, and recycling, and by exploiting collaborative strategies among the agri-food and industrial companies established in the area.