Search Results (4)

The integration of renewable energy with circular economy strategies offers effective pathways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while enhancing local energy independence. This study analyses three real-world projects implemented in Spain that exemplify this synergy. LIFE Smart Agromobility converts pig manure into biomethane to power farm vehicles, using anaerobic digestion and microalgae-based upgrading systems. Smart Met Value refines biogas from a wastewater treatment plant in Guadalajara to produce high-purity biomethane for the municipal fleet, demonstrating the viability of energy recovery from sewage sludge. The UNDERGY project addresses green hydrogen storage by repurposing a depleted natural gas reservoir, showing geochemical and geomechanical feasibility for seasonal underground hydrogen storage. Each project utilises regionally available resources to produce clean fuels—biomethane or hydrogen—while mitigating methane and CO₂ emissions. Results show significant energy recovery potential: biomethane production can replace a substantial portion of fossil fuel use in rural and urban settings, while hydrogen storage provides a scalable solution for surplus renewable energy. These applied cases demonstrate not only the technical feasibility but also the socio-economic benefits of integrating waste valorisation and energy transition technologies. Together, they represent replicable models for sustainable development and energy resilience across Europe and beyond. Full article

Urban agriculture is increasingly recognized as a strategy for enhancing sustainability and well-being in urban areas, mainly through circular economy principles. This study investigates residents’ perspectives from three major cities in western Romania—Arad, Timișoara, and Oradea—on the implementation and benefits of urban agriculture. The main goal was to identify differences in opinions regarding urban agriculture’s potential to improve biodiversity conservation, enhance carbon dioxide retention, and reduce synthetic compound usage. The research also explored community development through circular economy practices and tools local authorities could use to promote urban agriculture. A survey of 573 respondents utilized variance analysis and the Tukey test to reveal significant opinion differences among residents. The findings showed notable variations in views on biodiversity conservation and community development benefits but no significant differences in opinions on carbon dioxide capture or synthetic chemical use. Residents of Timișoara and Oradea expressed more favorable views on urban agriculture than those in Arad. Participants emphasized the importance of free land allocation and sustainable practices for successful urban agriculture implementation. This study offers valuable insights for policymakers and contributes to the understanding of urban sustainability and the role of urban agriculture in supporting circular economy principles. Full article

Climate fluctuations significantly impact small-scale farmers’ farm welfare (food, nutrition and income). This situation highlights an urgent need to invest in climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices. Climate-smart agriculture has prospects for enhancing agricultural productivity and resilience. Therefore, this study addresses the knowledge gap concerning the uptake and level of use of CSA practices by small-scale urban crop (SSUC) farmers, which is critical to enhancing food and income security in urban settings. The relatively low adoption and uptake of CSA practices among small-scale farmers warrants an investigation of the factors influencing its adoption and level of use, especially in urban agriculture (UA) settings. Using a multi-stage sampling technique, this study collected data from 412 SSUC farmers through a semi-structured questionnaire. Descriptive analysis, the composite score index (CSI), and an ordered probit model (OPM) were utilised for the analysis. The results reveal that most (74%) are aware of CSA practices. Despite the high awareness of CSA practices by SSUC farmers, many (66%) are medium users of CSA practices, suggesting a moderate CSA practices level of use in eThekwini Municipality. The top five preferred CSA practices include crop diversification (with a CSI of 3.694), followed by crop rotation (3.619), mulching (3.608), drought tolerant crops (3.459) and organic manure (3.442). The popularity of these CSA practices in eThekwini Municipality suggests their immediate benefits when implemented or their lesser complexity in terms of implementation. Age, gender (being male), and household size exhibit a statistically significant negative influence on the CSA practices’ level of use, increasing the likelihood of being in the lower user category. Yet, education, group membership and farming experience promote a higher level of use of CSA practices. The results show that while awareness is critical, socio-economic factors should not be ignored when upscaling the adoption of widespread CSA practices. Therefore, targeted and tailored socio-economic programmes that are age-directed, gender-sensitive, educational, emphasise collective action and leverage the experiences of urban farmers would be paramount in promoting effective CSA practices adoption and uptake by SSUC farmers in eThekwini Municipality, thus enhancing UA resilience against climate change reparations. Full article

Although agricultural intensification generally has homogenizing effects on landscapes that reduce crop diversity, the specific effects of different input strategies on crop diversity are unclear. This study examines the effects of irrigation inputs on crop species diversity in Mexico. We assess the richness and evenness diversity of 297 crop species across 2455 municipalities while controlling for environmental and socioeconomic factors and farm structural and functional characteristics. Using a quantile regression approach, we assess relationships across conditional quantiles of low-, medium-, and high-diversity farm regions. Results show irrigation level (% cropland irrigated) is a strong positive predictor of crop species richness and evenness diversity across all quantile regions. Moreover, the quantile effects of irrigation on evenness diversity are five times greater in low-diversity rather than high-diversity regions. With implications for agricultural water policy in Mexico, this study illustrates the potential benefits of sustainable irrigation expansion in water-rich but irrigation-poor farming regions. Specifically, by enhancing crop species diversity, carefully targeted irrigation expansion can support the transition to sustainable intensification. Full article