Food waste has important environmental, social and economic impacts and increasing attention has been given lately to the unparalleled scale of food waste in the food supply chain worldwide. An initiative aiming to reduce food waste was tested at the School of Agriculture canteen (University of Lisbon, Portugal). The "Clean dish, clean conscience!" initiative consisted of a simple and inexpensive education campaign to raise awareness of reducing plate waste, by establishing the connection between food waste and personal behaviour. As a first stage plate waste from canteen users was measured over a 10 day period. After this period, a waste consumption index and per capita waste consumption were calculated to evaluate the level of satisfaction of the consumer and the related concern about food wastage, and was classified as Bad. After this first stage it was concluded that the users did not have strong convictions about avoiding food waste. During the second stage of the project an education campaign was implemented with plate waste being monitored for a further 16 days to assess the effectiveness of the campaign. The approach consisted of displaying simple and affordable informative posters in strategic areas of the canteen with simple messages reminding not to accept food they knew they would not eat. This led to a mean reduction in the waste consumption index of ∼15%. A parallel action encouraging separation of organic and inorganic waste was implemented as well, with an active participation of >70% of the users. The initiative achieved its objective of reducing plate waste by raising awareness of the daily food waste problem at the institution's canteen and by suggesting "how-to" actions for reducing such waste. This study showed how avoidable waste can be reduced simply by making students aware of the topic of food waste. Simple strategies may be useful to improve behaviours and increase sustainability of the canteens at Universities although this proved to be only efficient with the collaboration of the canteen staff that needs solid education. From the results, a set of measures was presented to the University Social Services for adoption to ensure a permanent reduction of food waste and recyclables in the University canteens.

The study aimed to evaluate the initial development, as well as, the chemical characteristics of lettuce plants grown in substrate with high concentrations of bioagent (trichoderma). A completely randomized design with four replicates was used. The treatments, applied to a substrate composed of a blend of vermicompost and commercial substrate, were established by the following doses of the commercial product ICB Nutrissolo Trichoderma: T1) 0.0; T2) 1.0; T3) 2.0; T4) 4.0; T5) 8.0 and T6) 16.0x1011 conidia kg -1 of product. After inoculation, the substrate was placed in trays, where 50 lettuce seeds were sown on each replication. Plants were thinned after emergency stabilization, maintaining ten seedlings per tray. At 28 days after sowing, the characteristics percentage and emergence speed index, leaf area, fresh and dry leaf biomass, volume, length and surface area of the root were evaluated. We also determined the chemical characteristics of the leaves. The percentage of seed germination and the emergence speed index were lower at doses higher than 4.0x10 11 conidia kg -1 of the biological product. All the studied doses influenced negatively in shoot and root development of the plants. The percentage of nutrients in the leaves was higher in treatments with ICB.

The efficacy of the vermicomposting and products based on the antagonistic fungus and plant growth promoter trichoderma (Trichoderma spp) is well known and studied in organic agriculture. However, for a better methodological efficiency are necessary studies to evaluate the effect of high doses of these bioproducts in the biology and development of earthworms. Thus, the present work aims to test the use of high commercial biocontrol product (ICB Nutrisolo Trichoderma) doses by evaluating the multiplication and development of Eisenia andrei. Changes in the chemical features of the substrate produced by the vermicomposting process using in natura and sterilized organic cattle manure were also assessed. Each experimental unit consisted of 6 kg of substrate (in multipurpose polypropylene box -20x 40 x 50 cm) containing 48 clitelate adult Eisenia andrei earthworms. ICB Nutrisolo Trichoderma was used as biological agent along with eight strains of the following species: T. koningiopsis, T. asperellum and T. harzianum. The following treatments were applied at doses of 10 11 CFU kg -1 of ICB Nutrisolo Trichoderma in the presence of earthworms: T1 (0.5); T2 (1.0); T3 (2.0); T4 (4.0); T5 (8.0) and T6 (0.0). The T7 treatment was herein used in order to evaluate the chemical features of the vermicompost. It was a completely randomized design with four replications per treatment. The temperature was kept at 28°C and humidity ranged between 60 and 70%. After 60 days, the number of young and adult earthworms, and cocoons was counted; then, their dry biomass was assessed. The results found in the lethality test showed decrease in the number of earthworms treated with 4.0x10 11 CFU kg -1 of ICB. The biological product doses up to 1.0x10 11 CFU kg -1 did not alter the number of adult earthworms and cocoons, or the multiplication index of E. andrei in cattle waste vermicomposts. There was no influence of the tested doses on earthworms' individual development. However, doses above 2.0x10 11 CFU kg -1 decreased their total biomass. The C/N ratio for all treatments indicates maturity within acceptable results for organic compounds.