In order to decrease the environmental harm produced by the agro industries’ wastes’, an investigation of the co-composting of olive mill waste (olive mill wastewater (OMW), olive mill sludge (OMS)) and wine by-products (grape marc and winery wastewater) was done. Three aerated windrows of variable compositions were performed; these windrows differ in terms of their initial composition and the liquid used for their humidification; OMW and wastewater winery were used for humidification to replace water for windrow moistening. Moreover, the main physicochemical parameters (temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, and C/N) were monitored to evaluate the co-composting process. The latter lasted around three months. The elaborated composts were characterized by low C/N ratio, and they were rich in fertilizing and nutriment elements and of low heavy metal contents. The humidification of the windrows with OMW showed effectiveness in improving the windrows temperature, reflected by the high temperatures monitored during the composting process in comparison with the windrow humidified with winery wastewater. Furthermore, a longer thermophilic phase was held in windrows carrying OMS. The valorization of the produced composts for soil amendment significantly improved the soil fertility. Indeed, field experiments showed an increase in radish yield by 10%, the composts were harmless and did not have any phytotoxic effect on radish growth.

Further downstream in the olive oil extraction process, the Mediterranean Basin faces a serious environmental threat caused by olive waste. Despite their polluting pro le, olive waste is considered to be a very rich source of natural antioxidants, such as polyphenols. In this study, the latter was valued as a source of natural antioxidants and compared with a synthetic antioxidant ascorbic acid. Concentrations of 2, 4, 6, and 8 mg of the olive mill waste water as well as pomace and ascorbic acid are added to butter (commercial butter) and placed under storage conditions in the oven (accelerated test: 60°C) for 3 months. e alteration of the butter used was followed by determination of the peroxide value and acidity and microbiological analysis. e results obtained show that butters containing olive by-products have undergone less marked oxidative deterioration than those of the control (without additives). e best oxidative stability of butter was achieved by adding 80 mg/kg of butter, a result comparable with that obtained by adding ascorbic acid.

The needles of the Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis) (PA) are very abundant in the forest of the National Park of Tazekka (Ta-za-Morocco) and are unexploitable. Moreover, they constitute a potential danger because they facilitate the outbreak of wildfires. To solve this problem, we have considered turning these needles into a biomaterial that could be used as raw material for different uses, such as wastewater treatment. The biomaterial of the Aleppo pine is obtained from its needles which are harvested in spring, dried, cut, crushed, and sieved. The powder obtained is analyzed before and after the extraction of essential oil. The physicochemical and spectroscopic analyses show that this biomaterial is porous, hygroscopic, slightly acidic, moderately moist, and not very conducive. Its average density in the anhydrous state is 0.6. It is rich in carbon (79.91%) and oxygen (18.91%) in the form of aromatic compounds and ketone imprints; thus, relating the presence of cellulose, pectin, lignin, and hemicellulose. Its composition in mineral elements (Na, Mg, Ca, K, Cl, S) is deficient. Gas chromatographymass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of the oils extracted from the needle powder relates that it is a complex mixture of bioactive compounds such as mono-terpenoid α and β-pinene hydrocarbons. These results show that our biomaterial can be used as an adsorbent in wastewater treatment and the extracted essential oils can be used in the pharmacological, agro-food field.

No abstract

Composting is an ecological method of recycling organic waste. It presents an effective solution to reduce the large volume of agricultural waste and provides an organic fertilizer and soil amendment. However, its implementation remains limited, especially in Morocco. The vast majority of farmers are unaware of the effectiveness of compost, and it is often considered as an inefficient product compared with chemical fertilizers. In order to develop a local marketing strategy for compost, this study aims to identify the perceptions and willingness of farmers to produce and use compost in agriculture, and to assess the factors shaping these perceptions and willingness, including socio-economic, agricultural and individual factors. The case of Morocco is investigated, where the vast majority of farmers practice inappropriate disposal of agricultural waste and excessive use of agro-chemicals. Data are collected using a standard questionnaire and face-to-face interviews with 350 farmers during their visit to the international agricultural exhibition in Morocco. Descriptive statistics and analysis of variance (ANOVA) are used for data analysis. The results showed a high level (80%) of acceptance by farmers of the production and use of compost. Farmers are also very willing to produce and use compost in agriculture. All the socio-economic, individual and agricultural factors, except gender, length of experience and cultivated area, had a highly significant influence on farmers’ perception and willingness to produce compost (p < 0.005). The positive perceptions of farmers and the high level of willingness to produce compost imply that the composting of organic waste should be encouraged by our local authorities. The production of compost will thus contribute to environmental sustainability and to the promotion of the ecological management of agricultural waste meeting the requirements of a circular economy.