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Techno-Economic Assessment of APS-Based Poultry Feed Production with a Circular Biorefinery Process

Author

Listed:
  • Marta Buccaro

    (Consorzio Italbiotec, 20126 Milan, Italy)

  • Armando Toscano

    (Piperà—Persone per Ambienti, Professional Network for Society and Environment, 20127 Milan, Italy)

  • Melissa Balzarotti

    (Consorzio Italbiotec, 20126 Milan, Italy)

  • Ilaria Re

    (Consorzio Italbiotec, 20126 Milan, Italy)

  • Diego Bosco

    (Consorzio Italbiotec, 20126 Milan, Italy)

  • Maurizio Bettiga

    (Consorzio Italbiotec, 20126 Milan, Italy)

Abstract

Poultry livestock profitability significantly depends on feed, accounting for 60–70% of the total production cost, of which protein sources are among of the most expensive ingredients. The maintenance of profitability while meeting feed demand and reducing the environmental impact represents a considerable challenge driving research of alternative protein sources (APS), such as insects and algae meals. This study employs, for the first time, techno-economic assessment (TEA) methodology to evaluate the technological performance and the industrial feasibility of an APS-based poultry feed production method based on the valorization of the pre-treated organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) as a substrate for Hermetia illucens larval growth and microalgae cultivation. The Excel-based analysis, which evaluated the mass and energy balance as well as the income statement, was integrated with a thematic analysis focused on exploring how the overall value attributed to the sustainability concept is reflected in the willingness to adopt sustainable business models by entrepreneurs in the poultry sector. Despite the ability to generate revenues, the model cannot be said to be profitable for animal feed production due to the strong dependence of its profitability on scale economy logics. Enabling solutions could be derived from the recovery of abandoned infrastructures, government financial incentives, and integrated systems associating OFMSW treatment with poultry farming, thus resulting in marked economic sustainability and profitability: key elements from the poultry entrepreneurs’ point of view.

Suggested Citation

  • Marta Buccaro & Armando Toscano & Melissa Balzarotti & Ilaria Re & Diego Bosco & Maurizio Bettiga, 2023. "Techno-Economic Assessment of APS-Based Poultry Feed Production with a Circular Biorefinery Process," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-17, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:3:p:2195-:d:1045879
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Anton Gligorescu & Christian Holst Fischer & Peter Foged Larsen & Jan Værum Nørgaard & Lars-Henrik Lau Heckman, 2020. "Production and Optimization of Hermetia illucens (L.) Larvae Reared on Food Waste and Utilized as Feed Ingredient," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-13, November.
    2. Walter R. Stahel, 2016. "The circular economy," Nature, Nature, vol. 531(7595), pages 435-438, March.
    3. Tobias Hahn & Frank Figge & Jonatan Pinkse & Lutz Preuss, 2018. "A Paradox Perspective on Corporate Sustainability: Descriptive, Instrumental, and Normative Aspects," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 148(2), pages 235-248, March.
    4. Mojtaba Vaismoradi & Hannele Turunen & Terese Bondas, 2013. "Content analysis and thematic analysis: Implications for conducting a qualitative descriptive study," Nursing & Health Sciences, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 15(3), pages 398-405, September.
    5. Fabio A. Madau & Brunella Arru & Roberto Furesi & Pietro Pulina, 2020. "Insect Farming for Feed and Food Production from a Circular Business Model Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-15, July.
    6. Tom Baum & Catherine Cheung & Haiyan Kong & Anna Kralj & Shelagh Mooney & Hải Nguyễn Thị Thanh & Sridar Ramachandran & Marinela Dropulić Ružić & May Ling Siow, 2016. "Sustainability and the Tourism and Hospitality Workforce: A Thematic Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(8), pages 1-21, August.
    7. Armando Toscano & Melissa Balzarotti & Ilaria Re, 2022. "Sustainability Practices and Greenwashing Risk in the Italian Poultry Sector: A Grounded Theory Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-16, October.
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