Methodology for the Localization of Wool Collecting Centers: The Case Study of Sicily

Mariaconcetta Ganci, Luisa Biondi (), Monica C. M. Parlato and Simona M. C. Porto
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Mariaconcetta Ganci: Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 100, 95123 Catania, Italy
Luisa Biondi: Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 100, 95123 Catania, Italy
Monica C. M. Parlato: Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 100, 95123 Catania, Italy
Simona M. C. Porto: Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 100, 95123 Catania, Italy

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 16, 1-11

Abstract: Sustainable rural development depends on a multidimensional process based on the interaction of the economic, cultural, social, environmental, and political subsystems. Many studies have ascribed the extensive livestock systems a potential role in sustainable rural development. Sheep farming in Europe involves meat or dairy breeds that produce coarse wool unsuitable for textile use. Coarse wool has been historically used for mattresses or pillows; nowadays, it is a farm waste. The aim of this study was to suggest a methodology for the localization of wool collecting centers within a study area, i.e., the Sicily Region, in order to valorize a livestock waste, i.e., sheep wool. This methodology is based on a detailed database of the local livestock population and GIS usage. Moreover, this method could be replicable in the whole EU territory, where the EC regulation n. 21/2004 has established that each Member State set up a system for the identification and registration of ovine animals, for traceability veterinary reasons. On the basis of the number of animals shorn on a municipal basis, and the existing main roads, the most suitable areas for the localization of four wool collection centers have been identified. Furthermore, it was also hypothesized that each collecting center could be specialized in a specific treatment for subsequent wool use (e.g., amendment fertilizers, keratin extraction, green building material or geo-textile production).

Keywords: rural sustainability; raw sheep wool; valorization of livestock waste; circular economy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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