A methodology for boosting circular economy in olive oil and wine sectors: opportunities for the Italian competitiveness through eco-innovation strategies

Applying the principles of circular economy to agriculture is a very important contemporary issue on the international political and economic agenda. In this context, current knowledge and recent insights on biosurfactant production will be surveyed to apply these novel economic approaches in the field of agricultural waste valorisation. The main objective of the CREIAMO project is to set up a replicable methodology for boosting the transition towards circular economy of the oil and wine production sectors through the creation of new destinations for residues originated, new options for their economic valorisation and new business models to increase the competitiveness of companies. A first pilot application will be run in the Lombardia Region. To achieve this objective, the project operates on different eco-innovation strategies: a. Process and product eco-innovation for the exploitation of agriculture wastes from the production of wine and olive oil for producing eco-friendly biosurfactants. Cost-effective production methods will be implemented to improve its market profitability, resulting in higher yields and purity. In CREAIMO, theses bio value-added products will be, therefore, used to treat contaminated soil, which represents a main environmental issue. b. Systemic eco-innovation through industrial symbiosis (IS), allowing companies to achieve at the same time economic, environmental, and social advantages. This project will represent the first structured attempt of industrial symbiosis implementation in the Lombardia region, aiming at creating a symbiosis network with the active participation of both SMEs and local stakeholders.