Operationalizing the circular economy in the agri-food sector
On the 1st of December, from 13.30 to 15.00 CET, we will have the pleasure to listen to Gaëlle Petit (Sciences Po Rennes) on Operationalizing the circular economy in the agri-food sector
Registration here https://forms.gle/qy4rFYcEFAn8MBE88
Title: Operationalizing the circular economy in the agri-food sector: environmental assessment of brewing spent grain upcycling scenarios in human nutrition
abstract
The circular economy (CE) occupies a prominent place in the discourse of public authorities. It resembles a new paradigm for sustainable development, but the concept seems to be divided between various, potentially contradictory theoretical and practical approaches. While public authorities have significant levers to support economic actors and civil society in their circularity initiatives, it would seem that the scope of CE is limited in the agri-food sector. The limits relate in particular, on the one hand, to the intention of a real paradigm shift, and on the other hand to the difficulties of operationalizing sustainable development.
The brewing sector produces a deposit of 40 million tons of wet spent grains worldwide, used today mostly in animal nutrition. However, in the current context of food transition, it could act as an important source of protein, fiber and nutrients for the human diet. Several initiatives concerning the valorization of brewers’ spent grain are emerging in human food, but studies to assess the environmental impact of different scenarios are lacking.
This paper aims to present a comparative study of the environmental performance of different engineering strategies for stabilizing brewing spent grain with a view to its use in human nutrition (separate or combined treatments). These unit operations or their combinations for the recovery of spent grains in human consumption will be examined by life cycle analysis, an ISO standardized accounting methodology for quantifying the environmental impacts of a product. The influence of the introduction of a new stage in the life cycle of recovered spent grains on the environmental footprint of the product is very significant. The results highlight the importance of strategic choices of stabilization processes and process coupling, a major step for the reuse of spent grains in human food. This study provides trends and recommendations on the parameters to be compared for technical and organizational strategies for the recovery of food by-products in the context of the circular economy. The evaluation of different scenarios can help clarify the choices made by future economic actors wishing to start a new activity or any researcher or manager wishing to participate in a spent grain valorization project.

An agri-food engineer by training, Gaëlle Petit is an associate professor in management sciences at the Rennes Institute of Political Studies, a member of the Mixed Research Unit in Human and Social Sciences Arènes (UMR CNRS 6051). Gaëlle’s research focuses on issues of circular economy and foresight. It explores multi-criteria assessment from the perspective of environmental, social/societal dimensions, in particular through life cycle analysis (LCA) approaches; with a focus on food systems. She has published her research in various journals including Journal of Cleaner Production, International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, Sustainability, Journal of Agricultural Economics, International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning, Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety, Applied Sciences, Économie rurale.
OpenEdition vous propose de citer ce billet de la manière suivante :
Berkowitz Heloise (18 octobre 2022). Operationalizing the circular economy in the agri-food sector. Managing & Assessing Transition Innovation Network. Consulté le 16 mai 2025 à l’adresse https://doi.org/10.58079/raqh