Consumer Attitudes towards Microalgae Production and Microalgae-Based Agricultural Products: The Cases of Almería (Spain) and Livorno (Italy)
The production of microalgal biomass and products derived thereof for a wide variety of applications is a hot research topic, with the number of facilities being built and products and biologically active molecules launched into the market increasing every year. The aim of the current study was to i...
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doaj-52dae9db3f814167bcf4b401ef97cb842021-06-01T01:28:50ZengMDPI AGChemEngineering2305-70842021-05-015272710.3390/chemengineering5020027Consumer Attitudes towards Microalgae Production and Microalgae-Based Agricultural Products: The Cases of Almería (Spain) and Livorno (Italy)Tomás Lafarga0Carlo Pieroni1Giuliana D’Imporzano2Lorenzo Maggioni3Fabrizio Adani4Gabriel Acién5Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, SpainConsorzio Italiano Biogas e Gassificaziones, 26900 Lodi, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali—Produzione, Territorio, Agroenergia, Università Degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, ItalyConsorzio Italiano Biogas e Gassificaziones, 26900 Lodi, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali—Produzione, Territorio, Agroenergia, Università Degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Chemical Engineering, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, SpainThe production of microalgal biomass and products derived thereof for a wide variety of applications is a hot research topic, with the number of facilities being built and products and biologically active molecules launched into the market increasing every year. The aim of the current study was to identify the attitudes of citizens in Almería (Spain) and Livorno (Italy) towards the construction of a microalgae production plant and a biorefinery in their cities and also their opinions about the microalgae-based products that could be produced. Overall, in Almería (Spain), a NIMBY (not in my back yard) attitude towards the construction of a microalgal production facility and especially towards a microalgal biorefinery was observed, despite the strong microalgal industry in the region and the higher knowledge of citizens about microalgae. In both locations, but especially in Livorno (Italy), microalgae-based biostimulants, biofertilisers, and aquafeeds were well accepted. Proximity was the main factor affecting the acceptance of a microalgae producing facility. Consumer knowledge about microalgal biotechnology and the health and environmental benefits of this valuable raw material are scarce, and opinions are based on drivers other than knowledge. After gaining more knowledge about microalgal biorefineries, most of the responses in Almería (47%) and Livorno (61%) were more positive.https://www.mdpi.com/2305-7084/5/2/27consumer studiesbiotechnologycyanobacteriaagricultural productsaquafeedbiorefinery |
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DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Tomás Lafarga Carlo Pieroni Giuliana D’Imporzano Lorenzo Maggioni Fabrizio Adani Gabriel Acién |
spellingShingle |
Tomás Lafarga Carlo Pieroni Giuliana D’Imporzano Lorenzo Maggioni Fabrizio Adani Gabriel Acién Consumer Attitudes towards Microalgae Production and Microalgae-Based Agricultural Products: The Cases of Almería (Spain) and Livorno (Italy) ChemEngineering consumer studies biotechnology cyanobacteria agricultural products aquafeed biorefinery |
author_facet |
Tomás Lafarga Carlo Pieroni Giuliana D’Imporzano Lorenzo Maggioni Fabrizio Adani Gabriel Acién |
author_sort |
Tomás Lafarga |
title |
Consumer Attitudes towards Microalgae Production and Microalgae-Based Agricultural Products: The Cases of Almería (Spain) and Livorno (Italy) |
title_short |
Consumer Attitudes towards Microalgae Production and Microalgae-Based Agricultural Products: The Cases of Almería (Spain) and Livorno (Italy) |
title_full |
Consumer Attitudes towards Microalgae Production and Microalgae-Based Agricultural Products: The Cases of Almería (Spain) and Livorno (Italy) |
title_fullStr |
Consumer Attitudes towards Microalgae Production and Microalgae-Based Agricultural Products: The Cases of Almería (Spain) and Livorno (Italy) |
title_full_unstemmed |
Consumer Attitudes towards Microalgae Production and Microalgae-Based Agricultural Products: The Cases of Almería (Spain) and Livorno (Italy) |
title_sort |
consumer attitudes towards microalgae production and microalgae-based agricultural products: the cases of almería (spain) and livorno (italy) |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
ChemEngineering |
issn |
2305-7084 |
publishDate |
2021-05-01 |
description |
The production of microalgal biomass and products derived thereof for a wide variety of applications is a hot research topic, with the number of facilities being built and products and biologically active molecules launched into the market increasing every year. The aim of the current study was to identify the attitudes of citizens in Almería (Spain) and Livorno (Italy) towards the construction of a microalgae production plant and a biorefinery in their cities and also their opinions about the microalgae-based products that could be produced. Overall, in Almería (Spain), a NIMBY (not in my back yard) attitude towards the construction of a microalgal production facility and especially towards a microalgal biorefinery was observed, despite the strong microalgal industry in the region and the higher knowledge of citizens about microalgae. In both locations, but especially in Livorno (Italy), microalgae-based biostimulants, biofertilisers, and aquafeeds were well accepted. Proximity was the main factor affecting the acceptance of a microalgae producing facility. Consumer knowledge about microalgal biotechnology and the health and environmental benefits of this valuable raw material are scarce, and opinions are based on drivers other than knowledge. After gaining more knowledge about microalgal biorefineries, most of the responses in Almería (47%) and Livorno (61%) were more positive. |
topic |
consumer studies biotechnology cyanobacteria agricultural products aquafeed biorefinery |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2305-7084/5/2/27 |
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