Area Of Southern Italy Research Articles

Determinants of Rotavirus Vaccine Acceptance in an Area of Southern Italy with Low Vaccination Coverage: A Case-Control Study by the Health Belief Model Questionnaire

Background/Objectives: Rotavirus (RV) is the primary cause of gastroenteritis in children worldwide, contributing significantly to morbidity and mortality, particularly among children under five years of age. The introduction of Rotavirus vaccines (RVV) has markedly reduced RV-related childhood deaths, especially in Europe, where substantial reductions in hospitalizations and disease prevalence have been observed. Despite these advances, RVV uptake in Italy remains below the desired targets, with notable regional disparities. In Sicily, vaccination rates have fluctuated, with current coverage failing to meet national goals. Safety concerns and insufficient parental awareness are major barriers to RVV acceptance. Methods: This case-control study was conducted in Southern Italy to identify factors influencing parental acceptance of RVV. Data were collected from parents using a structured questionnaire that assessed socio-demographic factors, vaccine knowledge, and attitudes based on the Health Belief Model (HBM). Results: Overall, 226 parents were enrolled. Higher perceived benefit of RVV was significantly associated with increased vaccine adherence (Odds Ratio = 13.65; 95% Confidence Interval = 6.88–27.09; p < 0.001). Conclusions: These results highlight the need for targeted interventions to improve vaccine coverage and address regional and socio-economic barriers to RVV acceptance. Furthermore, tailored educational campaigns and univocal information from healthcare providers could play pivotal roles in achieving higher vaccine uptake.

A framework for data analysis from long-term monitoring in anthropized coastal areas

In heavily urbanised coastal areas, such as port basins, long-term monitoring of key parameters can provide deep insights into local physical and ecological processes, supporting sustainable coastal planning and enhancing effective environmental management strategies. This study introduces a novel, user-friendly framework for analysing multi-year time series data at monitored coastal sites, to assess variations arising from human or natural changes. It explores how physical drivers can influence biological and ecological conditions across various temporal and spatial scales. This approach makes monitoring a vital tool for planning and control. While the proposed data processing techniques have been discussed in previous literature, their integration into a unified framework is what differentiates the present work from prior studies. The framework’s applicability is demonstrated in the Bari Port area in Southern Italy, where monitoring stations have been in place since 2019 due to dredging operations. Despite its specific application, the framework is adaptable to any coastal area with meteo-oceanographic stations providing high-quality data. Key findings indicate that dredging primarily reduced turbulent mixing due to containment measures, affecting the distribution and transport of turbidity and oxygen. Additionally, our analysis shows that evaluating tracers’ diffusivity requires consideration of turbulence, waves, and tides.

Greenness and mortality in an industrialized area in Southern Italy: a health impact assessment study

Abstract Background In Taranto the effects of industrial installations have been studied, but less attention has been placed on the impacts of green-oriented policies. The “3-30-300” rule states that every citizen should have 30% tree-canopy-cover in their neighborhood and not live more than 300m away from the nearest green space. In this Health Impact Assessment (HIA) study, we aimed to quantify the deaths that could be prevented in population aged ≥20 years by implementing this policy in Taranto. Methods Population weighted exposures (PWE) to green spaces (10m) were estimated using the 2022 greenest season NDVI from Sentinel-2 and the 2021 ESA WorldCover within a 300m (WHO 2016) buffer. We set a tree-cover optimal target of 30% and interim targets from 10% to 25%. For each tree-cover target, we set the counterfactual exposure (CE) as the corresponding PWE to NDVI. Age-specific preventable deaths (PD) were calculated by multiplying the baseline deaths (ISTAT) by the preventable fractions (PF). Preventable years of life lost (PYLL) were calculated by multiplying the PD by the specific life expectancy. To compute the 95%CI, we ran 100,000 Monte Carlo simulations to propagate the uncertainties of both CE and ERF to the final estimates. Results The PWEs to NDVI and tree-cover-proportion were 0.19 and 8.0%, respectively. For the 30% tree-cover target (currently achieved by the 1.5% of population), the CE (NDVI) and PF (%) were 0.33 (0.32-0.33) and 5.4% (4.1%-6.2%). A total of 126 (97-146) PD and 1270 (976-1474) PYLL were estimated. Three-cover, shrubland and grassland were associated to higher NDVI values, while built-up and deprivation-index were associated to lower greenness. NDVI and summer temperature showed an inverse relationship. Conclusions This study as a pioneering effort in Southern Italy. Providing more green space could prevent a substantial number of premature deaths in Taranto, potentially up to 5.4% by achieving a 30% tree-cover. Key messages • Providing more green space could prevent a substantial number of premature deaths in Taranto, potentially up to 5.4% by achieving a 30% tree-cover. • Built-up and deprivation-index were associated to lower greenness. NDVI and summer temperature showed an inverse relationship.

Age Differences and Prevalence of Comorbidities for Death and Survival in Patients with COVID-19: A Single-Center Observational Study in a Region of Southern Italy.

The SARS-CoV-2 outbreak has resulted in a considerable number of deaths worldwide. The virus damages the pulmonary artery endothelium, leading to a condition known as microvascular pulmonary inflammatory thrombotic syndrome (MPITS), which can be fatal and cause multiple organ failure. The presence of preexisting comorbidities has been shown to significantly impact the severity and prognosis of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. The objective of this study was to compare the age groups of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and to identify the prevalence of comorbidities associated with death and survival in an area of southern Italy. The data set consisted of 1985 patients with confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection who were admitted to the A.O.U. San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi d'Aragona Hospital in Salerno between January 2021 and December 2022. The results were presented for the overall population and stratified by outcome and age group. All analyses were performed using the XLSTAT (Lumivero, 2024, Paris, France) and STATA software (release 16.1, StataCorp LLG, College Station, TX, USA, 2019) packages. In the study, population, 636 cases (32%) resulted in death, with a higher prevalence in the 60-79 age group, followed by the ≥80 and 30-59 age groups. The most prevalent diseases among deceased and surviving patients with confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection were those affecting the circulatory system (61.5% vs. 55.5%), the respiratory system (55.8% vs. 26.2%), and the metabolic system (25.9% vs. 25.4%). In patients aged 30-79, respiratory diseases were the primary cause of mortality, whereas in those aged ≥80, circulatory system diseases were more prevalent. Among survivors, cardiovascular diseases were the most common comorbidities across all age groups, followed by respiratory diseases and endocrine, metabolic, and immune disorders. Moreover, these comorbidities were associated with an elevated risk of mortality. The study emphasizes the substantial influence of age and comorbidities on the mortality associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. These findings highlight the necessity for targeted interventions to manage comorbid conditions in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, particularly in older adults.

Green space, air pollution and mortality in a metropolitan area in Southern Italy: a health impact assessment study

Green space, air pollution and mortality in a metropolitan area in Southern Italy: a health impact assessment study

Tourist itineraries for Sustainable Mobility: an application in the Salento Area (Italy)

The purpose of this work is to define the design process, implemented through an analytical methodology, of two sustainable mobility tourist routes in a specific area of southern Italy (Salento); methodology applicable to other territorial realities. This design process was developed in the context of the 2014/2020 Interreg V-A Greece-Italy cross-border cooperation strategic project called "AI SMART_Adriatic Ionian Small Port Network". It takes into account the analysis of existing Plans and Programs at different levels (Sustainable Mobility Urban Plans; cycling routes; Territorial Plans, etc.), the analysis of statistical data in the area related to employment and tourism; the interlocution with key stakeholders, the analysis of architectural, landscape and food and wine surpluses. These routes have been defined for the interaction of the port of Otranto with the hinterland territories and with the opposite Ionian coast to promote the sustainable and inclusive transnational tourist fruition of the Apulian territory. The genesis of the two thematic itineraries stems from the need/willingness to valorise some areas of Salento through the connection of significant nodes in terms of landscape, architectural and historical value, which define two routes with Pulsano and Otranto as their vertices. The project brings together the potential of the Salento as an area with a strong tourist value, with the theme of sustainable mobility, suggesting the seasonality of travel of each, to meet the needs of deseasonalization of an area with a high summer and seaside tourism vocation.

Seismic‐electromagnetic signals from two monitoring stations in Southern Italy: Electromagnetic time series release

AbstractThe seismic‐electromagnetic phenomenon entails the generation of transient electromagnetic signals, which can be observed both simultaneously (co‐seismic) and preceding (pre‐seismic) a seismic wave arrival. Following the most accredited hypothesis, these signals are mainly due to electrokinetic effects, generated on microscopic scale in porous media containing electrolytic fluids. Thus, the seismic‐electromagnetic signals are expected to be suitable for the detection and tracking of crustal fluids. Despite the growing interest in this phenomenon, there is a lack of freely available observational database of earthquake‐related electromagnetic signals recorded at co‐located seismic and magnetotelluric stations. To fill this gap, we set up two multicomponent monitoring stations in two seismically active areas of Southern Italy: the Gargano Promontory and the High Agri Valley. This work is both aimed to systematically analyse earthquake‐generated seismic‐electromagnetic recordings and to make the collected database accessible to the scientific community.

Drone-Borne Magnetic Gradiometry in Archaeological Applications.

The use of magnetometers arranged in a gradiometer configuration offers a practical and widely used solution, particularly in archaeological applications where the sources of interest are generally shallow. Since magnetic anomalies due to archaeological remains often have low amplitudes, highly sensitive magnetic sensors are kept very close to the ground to reveal buried structures. However, the deployment of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) is increasingly becoming a reliable and valuable tool for the acquisition of magnetic data, providing uniform coverage of large areas and access to even very steep terrain, saving time and reducing risks. However, the application of a vertical gradiometer for drone-borne measurements is still challenging due to the instability of the system drone magnetometer in flight and noise issues due to the magnetic interference of the mobile platform or related to the oscillation of the suspended sensors. We present the implementation of a magnetic vertical gradiometer UAV system and its use in an archaeological area of Southern Italy. To reduce the magnetic and electromagnetic noise caused by the aircraft, the magnetometer was suspended 3m below the drone using ropes. A Continuous Wavelet Transform analysis of data collected in controlled tests confirmed that several characteristic power spectrum peaks occur at frequencies compatible with the magnetometer oscillations. This noise was then eliminated with a properly designed low-pass filter. The resulting drone-borne vertical gradient data compare very well with ground-based magnetic measurements collected in the same area and taken as a control dataset.

The Queen Is Dead, Long Live the Queen: The Vanishing of Pinna nobilis and the Onset of the Congeneric P. rudis (Mollusca: Bivalvia)

The bivalve mollusc Pinna nobilis, endemic to the Mediterranean Sea, has been vanishing since 2016 from the whole basin because of an infection by multiple pathogens that caused mass mortality events. In the Eastern Mediterranean, some small populations seem to be resistant to the infection. These individuals could represent the only possibility for the species to recolonize desert habitats. Thus, according to the recommendations of IUCN, looking for living specimens of P. nobilis is a priority. With this goal in mind, we carried out surveys in different areas of Southern Italy, and in 2018, we launched a Citizen Science campaign to involve recreational and professional divers in this challenge. As a result of a monitoring activity carried out in 2022–2024, along the Ionian coast of Apulia, in Southern Italy, we can say that there are no more living specimens there but only empty shells. Concurrent to the vanishing of the queen P. nobilis, its congeneric P. rudis, resistant to the infection, seems to be taking advantage, becoming more common and colonizing habitats once exclusive to P. nobilis. In fact, from different areas of the Mediterranean, sightings of the new possible queen, P. rudis, are increasing, together with the discovery of individuals exhibiting morphological traits that are a mixture of the two species. In some cases, these morphological features are not easy to detect; nevertheless, the presence of these hybrids, resistant to the infection, is important for the conservation of the species.

Eco-physiological behaviors of some apple genotypes (Malus x domestica Borkh.) in the hot-and-dry climate of an inner area of Southern Italy

The Italian internal areas are distant from the main trade flows and service centers, but have important environmental and cultural resources. The Italian “National Strategy for Inner Areas” represents a novel policy aimed at contrast the abandon of these territories by supporting multiple activities aimed at stimulating economic development and promoting territorial cohesion. The condition of marginality offers the chance to pursue economic development according to the principles of sustainability. These internal areas are often distinguished by a purely rural vocation. Genotypes of fruit crops traditionally grown in inland areas cope often with difficult climatic conditions and low-input farming techniques, showing generally a good tolerance to abiotic tresses. Exploring their eco-physiological behaviors in response to the agri-environmental context is useful for identifying crops capable of stimulating the recovery and expansion of a sustainable agriculture system in inland areas. The present work reports some results of a research conducted on three traditional local apple genotypes grown in an internal hot-arid summer area of Southern Italy, evaluating their water status and the intensity of leaf gas exchange compared to those of a well-known “standard” cultivar, in a hot, dry summer period. The local genotypes tested in this case study proved to be more eco-physiologically performing. The experiment allowed to estimate their probable relative eco-physiological advantages compared to the “standard” apple genotype taken as reference.

Morphological and Genomic Differences in the Italian Populations of Onopordum tauricum Willd.-A New Source of Vegetable Rennet.

Onopordum tauricum Willd., a species distributed in Eastern Europe, has been the subject of various research endeavors aimed at assessing its suitability for extracting vegetable rennet for use in the production of local cheeses as a substitute for animal-derived rennet. In Italy, the species has an extremely fragmented and localized distribution in six locations scattered across the central-northern Apennines and some areas of southern Italy. In this study, both the morphology and genetic diversity of the six known Italian populations were investigated to detect putative ecotypes. To this end, 33 morphological traits were considered for morphometric measurements, while genetic analysis was conducted on the entire genome using the ddRAD-Seq method. Both analyses revealed significant differences among the Apennine populations (SOL, COL, and VIS) and those from southern Italy (ROT, PES, and LEC). Specifically, the southern Italian populations appear to deviate significantly in some characteristics from the typical form of the species. Therefore, its attribution to O. tauricum is currently uncertain, and further genetic and morphological analyses are underway to ascertain its systematic placement within the genus Onopordum.

An innovative strategy for deworming dogs in Mediterranean areas highly endemic for cystic echinococcosis

BackgroundCystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato, is a zoonotic parasitic disease of economic and public health importance worldwide, especially in the Mediterranean area. Canids are the main definitive hosts of the adult cestode contaminating the environment with parasite eggs released with feces. In rural and peri-urban areas, the risk of transmission to livestock as well as humans is high because of the free-roaming behavior of owned/not owned dogs. Collecting data on animal movements and behavior using GPS dataloggers could be a milestone to contain the spread of this parasitosis. Thus, this study aims to develop a comprehensive control strategy, focused on deworming a dog population in a pilot area of southern Italy (Campania region) highly endemic for CE.MethodsAccordingly, five sheep farms, tested to be positive for CE, were selected. In each sheep farm, all shepherd dogs present were treated every 2 months with praziquantel. Furthermore, 15 GPS dataloggers were applied to sheep and dogs, and their movements were tracked for 1 month; the distances that they traveled and their respective home ranges were determined using minimum convex polygon (MCP) analysis with a convex hull geometry as output.ResultsThe results showed that the mean daily walking distances traveled by sheep and dogs did not significantly differ. Over 90% of the point locations collected by GPS fell within 1500 mt of the farm, and the longest distances were traveled between 10:00 and 17:00. In all the sheep farms monitored, the area traversed by the animals during their daily activities showed an extension of < 250 hectares. Based on the home range of the animals, the area with the highest risk of access from canids (minimum safe convex polygon) was estimated around the centroid of each farm, and a potential scheme for the delivery of praziquantel-laced baits for the treatment of not owned dogs gravitating around the grazing area was designed.ConclusionsThis study documents the usefulness of geospatial technology in supporting parasite control strategies to reduce disease transmission.Graphical

Assessing the stability of underground caves through iSUMM (innovative, straightforward, user-friendly, mechanically-based method)

A huge number of sinkhole events has been recorded in different Italian urban areas, with an occurrence frequency largely increasing in the last decades, sometimes even causing loss of human lives. The main reason for such catastrophic events is the presence of man-made underground cavities, excavated within soft rocks, several decades ago and then abandoned, at shallow depths. Here, the possibility of interaction with overlying buildings and infrastructures and the corresponding sinkhole hazard is relatively high. In such contexts, the low mechanical properties of the soft rock formations where the cavities have been excavated, like those formed of calcarenites, which outcrop in large areas of Southern Italy, and their high susceptibility to weathering processes, represent one of the most important predisposing factors for instability. Therefore, assessing the stability of underground cavities is crucial for land management and planning purposes. The mechanically-based stability charts developed by Perrotti et al. (Int J Geomech 18(7):04018071, 2018) have proved to be a valid tool for preliminary stability assessment and, although allow to identify an eventual proneness of the cave to instability, they do not provide quantitative assessment about the safety margin itself. In that regard, this study intends to present the most recent outcomes obtained in the development of the methodology and is aimed at promoting an enhanced way for their application, so that the charts can become an operative tool for preliminary sinkhole hazard assessment in similar regions in the world.

An agro-meteorological hazard analysis for risk management in a Mediterranean area: a case study in Southern Italy (Campania Region)

Agriculture is highly dependent on environmental, climate and weather conditions and on extreme weather events leading to natural disasters. Such events are more and more frequent in Italy, and in the last decades huge public investments were dedicated to risk management policies in agriculture. In order to set an adequate weather-related risk assessment, a robust analysis of the hazard is needed, which requires an agro-meteorological approach to detect the potential impacts of weather extremes on agricultural activities. With the aim of assessing the effectiveness of the current risk management policy in catching the main hazards, specific agro-meteorological indices were applied to highlight occurrence, trends, and spatial patterns of extreme events. The analysis was based on reanalysis datasets and focused on a study area in Southern Italy (Campania region) during the 1981–2021 period. The findings are reported in terms of maps and statistics aggregated at administrative unit level (5 provinces) and show a general intensification of weather extremes in the last decades, both in frequency and intensity of the events. The main indications refer to growth rates of heavy precipitation, potentially leading to flood, locally exceeding 3–4 mm/year, an increasing number of months with severe/extreme droughts, mainly concentrated during the growing season. An upward trend was also observed for days with extreme maximum temperatures, which already exceeded or approached 50% between June and September in the 1981–2021 period in most areas. Maximum temperatures above 35 °C are becoming more frequent and in the inner areas they were reached in 10 days in the 2021 summer quarter. On the other hand, no significant trends were detected for late frosts. In terms of policy implications, the results seem to suggest that some extreme weather events can no longer be considered as exceptional at the present time and in a trend perspective, making them less suitable to be addressed through the risk management tools based almost exclusively on the strategy of transferring risks (insurances and more recent mutual funds) both for farmers and for the allocation of public resources. Therefore, the need is underlined for improving the design of the risk management policies to increase farms’ resilience and adaptation to climate change. Moreover, the study highlights the information potential of agro-meteorological indices in supporting evidence-based decision making in agriculture.

Abrupt Increase in Detection of Locally Acquired West-Nile-Virus-Lineage-2-Mediated Neuroinvasive Disease in a Previously Non-Endemic Area of Southern Italy (2023).

West Nile virus (WNV) is a public health concern in Europe. Rising temperatures and the migration of potential vectors promote the spread of viruses to previously unaffected areas. In 2023, the Apulia region of Southern Italy experienced an unexpected increase in West Nile neuroinvasive disease (WNND); no such cases had been reported in the previous 10 years. Overall, eight autochthonous cases of WNV infection were identified between July and October 2023, six of which were WNND. All cases were male (median age, 73 years). Two of the cases were blood donors. All WNND cases were hospitalized and all recovered within a few weeks. Surveillance data showed that, in the Apulia region, WNV Lineage 2 was detected in humans, mosquitoes, and horses. Based on the number of WNND cases reported, we can assume that a high number of infections occurred during the summer period. Changes in the climate in the region over recent years could be considered among the main drivers of the rapid increase in WNV infections. Therefore, integrated surveillance should be strengthened to avoid the potential massive spread of WNV in Southern Italy. Moreover, the implementation of whole-genome sequencing of WNV strains, as well as seroepidemiological studies in the area, will facilitate a better understanding of circulation dynamics.

A Location Model for the Agro-Biomethane Plants in Supporting the REPowerEU Energy Policy Program

Biomethane represents one of the solutions towards the European Union (EU) energy transition, being capable to decarbonize the EU’s energy system and to reduce the dependence on imported natural gas, as underlined by the “REPowerEU” energy policy program. As its production is expected to expand primarily from biogenic wastes and residues, such as agricultural residues and animal effluents, it is necessary to make its deployment cost-efficient, taking into account factors such as local resources, existing infrastructure, and raw material and investment costs. From this perspective, this paper proposes a replicable predictive model for locating agro-biomethane plants according to raw material potential, relative economic factors, and territorial characteristics. To this end, an analysis was conducted in the Geographic Information System environment, based on location theory. The analysis included testing the minimum transport cost of feedstock in a case study of a rural area in Southern Italy. Three optimal locations for 2 MW size plants were selected where some key element conditions had been identified. The research findings may provide useful information for the EU policymakers in defining more specific energy planning strategies, in accordance with the REPowerEU objectives, addressing the increase in biomethane production by 2030.

Perception of Ecosystem Services from Podolian Farming System in Marginal Areas of Southern Italy

Ecosystem services (ESs) are gaining increasing interest among researchers, local communities, and policymakers. The farming of Podolian cattle in the remote and marginal areas of southern Italy plays an important socio-economic role. This study aimed to assess the perception of ESs provided by Podolian cattle farming in the Basilicata region among the local actors and stakeholders. Using a questionnaire administered to 198 respondents, the level of agreement and disagreement was assessed on a 1–5 scale for the four main ESs: cultural, regulating, supporting, and provisioning. On average, the perception of ESs related to Podolian cattle farming was positive. However, the role of promoting tourism in the region was somewhat controversial, and the results in terms of regulation were divisive. The perception of provisioning services had a highly positive result. Further research is needed to better understand the role of Podolian cattle farming in the Basilicata region, providing more explicit guidance for local communities and policymakers.

The use of purified wastewater for irrigation: Possible strategies in the Capitanata area (Apulia, Italy)

The reuse of purified wastewater can supplement water availability for irrigation and limit withdrawals from groundwater which contribute to deteriorating its quality in many Italian coastal agricultural areas. The regulatory framework defined by EC Reg. 741/2020 specifies the legal and technical conditions, which from 2023 allow this use to be promoted in Italy. However, Italian agriculture is also differentiated in the ways in which farms obtain water for irrigation, and it is advisable to direct the treated wastewater towards the types that will then effectively reduce the use of groundwater. Our study seeks to identify these typologies by examining irrigation conditions in an important agricultural area of Southern Italy. Some districts of this territory are reached by collective irrigation networks of a Consortium that supply all the irrigation water; other areas are connected to those networks, but its supplies are lacking, and the farms also draw on underground aquifers; other areas are not reached by the collective network and groundwater is the only irrigation resource available. An econometric estimate of the irrigation demand in these areas defines whether the relationship between irrigation demand for groundwater and consortium is complementary or substitutive. This outlines the possible responses to the increase in consortium supplies with the introduction of treated wastewater, identifying the farm types to which those additional water resources can be allocated to reduce withdrawals from aquifers. A Seemingly Unrelated Regression Equations system of two irrigation water demand functions, from Consortium and from farm wells, is estimated with data from the National Information System for the Management of Water Resources in Agriculture (SIGRIAN) and the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN). The unitary costs of using each of these two sources are amongst the technical and economic regressors. The results indicate that in the farm type that uses both water sources, consortium and groundwater, there is a substitution relationship between these two sources. Also, the irrigation of these farms is the most responsive to current trends in the profitability of the various groups of crops, with the possibility of a further growth in the groundwater use. Supporting irrigation with treated wastewater on these farms would not induce rebound effects that increase the groundwater use: a greater irrigation supply of purified and conventional water at lower costs would instead reduce the use this water source.

Soil Erosion vs. Vineyard Productivity: The Case of the Aglianico del Vulture DOC and DOCG Areas (Southern Italy)

Soil erosion in European Mediterranean vineyards is the main impact factor of uncontrolled solute and nutrient transport, degradation of soil structure, and loss of organic matter, which are key controlling factors in grape productivity and quality. The relationship between soil loss and grape productivity in the Aglianico DOC and DOCG areas of Southern Italy has been studied. Erosion values estimated through the RUSLE model were compared with grape productivity from 2011 to 2019. The obtained results show a negative correlation between the two parameters. The amounts of soil loss for different vineyard slope classes were also considered. The erosion values increase by an order of magnitude moving from the gentle slopes (0–5°) to the steeper ones (&gt;30°), typical of hilly and mountainous areas. The planned shift in the future of vineyards towards these altitudinal bands could prove to be uneconomical if conservative techniques are not carried out.

Economic benefits and soil improvement: Impacts of vermicompost use in spinach production through industrial symbiosis

Industrial symbiosis is being increasingly recognized as a valuable tool for promoting a more sustainable production process in agriculture. However, the primary motivation for implementing industrial symbiosis is economic viability. In the context of industrial symbiosis, by linking agriculture and food together, the study examines the impact of the use of vermicompost, derived from agricultural by-products, on spinach yield as well as on nutritional and biochemical soil aspects. Moreover, the economic feasibility for spinach farmers is also investigated. A field experiment with five treatments i) solarization ii) solarization and vermicompost iii) green manure and solarization iv) green manure, solarization, and vermicompost, and v) vermicompost has been realized in “Piana del Sele”, a rural area in Southern Italy. Collected data have been analysed through a Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling approach to assess the overall impact (direct and indirect effects) of vermicompost on both spinach yield and soil characteristics. Lastly, the economic profitability of using vermicompost is pointed out for spinach growers. The study findings show that the highest positive impact on yield occurs when vermicompost is combined with solarization (+15 %). Moreover, with regard to soil characteristics, the combination of vermicompost and solarization has a positive impact on nutrients, fungal biodiversity, and the biochemical quality of the soil. The economic profitability of using vermicompost in conjunction with solarization is guaranteed when the price of vermicompost is below € 0.84/kg. In light of these findings, some policy interventions can be implemented to enable industrial symbiosis as a viable tool for a circular economy in the agri-food sector. These include promoting the diffusion of biogas plants to valorize agricultural by-products and promoting the use of vermicompost in farms, by encouraging its purchase by farmers.