Studies have focused on identifying combinations of insects and organic waste to optimise bio-conversion. Here, the effects of different diets (10% chicken feed complemented with 90% vegetable waste, garden waste, cattle manure, or horse manure) on growth and survival rates, and nutritional value of Zophobas morio and Tenebrio molitor larvae, and Acheta domesticus were investigated. Compared with chicken feed, organic waste decreased the individual larval weight, although green waste showed fewer negative effects than the manure. The macronutrient concentrations in garden waste were moderate compared with chicken feed, and vegetable waste was the poorest diet in terms of nutrient concentration, as revealed by the principal component analysis (PCA). There was no difference in weight between larvae reared on garden waste and those reared on vegetable waste. Tenebrio molitor and A. domesticus showed the maximum growth rates at 71–101 and 36–66 days of age at 22.5 ± 2.5 °C, respectively. The PCA showed that the protein and fibre concentrations were inversely proportional to fat concentration in the larvae. Acheta domesticus was rich in proteins, whereas Z. morio and T. molitor were rich in fat. Feeding nutrient-poor diets resulted in a lower protein and a higher fat concentration in the larvae.

Because of the climate change and emerging need for an environmentally sustainable production system, circular economic characteristics have come to the front in many studies. There are many challenges in this shift toward a circular value chain. Still, it is unquestionable that the analysis of consumers’ behaviour is crucial, because without their engagement, circular systems cannot work correctly. This article aimed to explore the circular characteristics of consumers’ attitude towards food purchasing in Hungary. Factor and cluster analyses were applied for market segmentation. The question to be answered was the following: “Are there any segments in the Hungarian food market that can be aimed at by different marketing tools to promote circular systems?” The hypothesis was that well-defined segments can be separated, garnering more engagement in the circular value chain in Hungary. We could separate two clusters, in which the members’ opinions were in line with the circular economic characteristics. Summing up the features of the different clusters, we can state that the members in cluster 1 (“Information-dependent”) and cluster 3 (“Direct purchasers”) were in the most local dimension; their attitude was the most adequate for the circular economic values. The “Information-dependent” consumer in particular was remarkable from the aspect of this investigation. This study showed that highly educated young people, who are very conscious consumers and live on good incomes, may be the target group for circular innovation. These young consumers usually buy organic food, are confident internet and software users, live in cities, and follow a healthy lifestyle. Finding the right marketing tools to integrate these consumers into more sustainable circular systems effectively and to be committed to the concepts of circular consumption is an essential mission in the future. Collecting from different databases and continuously analysing consumer feedback can be a huge step towards in achieving sustainable consumption and avoiding food waste. The significance of this analysis was that we found a defined segment that represents propensity towards accepting circular economy values and can be the target group of policies integrating circular systems.

Among the renewable energy sources, increasing the use of biomass (agricultural by-products) could be important from both an environmental and a climate protection perspective, but in many cases this is not a part of the current practice. Especially in developing countries, a large amount of agricultural waste suitable for energy use remains unused, remaining on the arable land or being burned in the field. Complicating matters is the fact that some countries have significant fossil energy reserves. This is also the case in Kosovo, which has the largest reserves of coal reserves (lignite) in southeastern Europe. An important question is how polluting and non-climate-friendly fossil fuels are to be replaced when they are available cheaply and in large quantities. The function of the political and economic models used in Europe has local specificity. It is not possible to copy the good solutions introduced by each country because of differences in the economic systems and farmers. Previous research has paid little attention to the producer conditions for available waste biomass sales. Studies have not examined the sales attitudes of farmers, or under what conditions they are willing to sell a larger proportion of the straw produced—of course, in such a way that they also meet the needs of animal husbandry, nutrients, and carbon supply. Using binary logistics regression and descriptive statistics not yet used in previous research, we analyzed the factors that influence farmers’ willingness to sell, sales barriers, and incentives. According to the respondents, the biggest barriers to selling straw are the lack of a market (74.1%) and baling machines (50.9%), while the main incentives may be a good price (75%) and a guaranteed contract (67.8%). The farmers surveyed believe that, in a safe market, with a multiyear contractual agreement, they would sell more than half of their straw for biomass energy production. The use of straw in animal husbandry is declining due to the introduction of new technological solutions, so the use of straw for energy purposes is an increasingly topical issue in the rapidly developing southeastern European countries as well. Based on our research results, it can be stated that the majority of farmers are willing to sell more than 50% of the amount of straw produced for energy purposes if the business model and state regulations are appropriate.

Total phenolic content (TP) and total antioxidant capacity (AC) were analysed in shoots of Phyllostachys aureosulcata (PA), P aureosulcata f. aureocaulis (PAA), P. aureosulcata f. spectabilis (PAS), P. bissetii (PB), P. flexuosa (PF), P. humilis (PH), P. iridescens (PI), P. nigra var. nigra (PNN), P. nigra var. henonis (PNH), P. mannii (PM), P. sulphurea var. sulphurea (PSS), P. violascens (PVI), P. viridiglaucescens (PVG), P. vivax f. aureocaulis (PVA), collected on four harvest dates. Both TP and AC were determined following three processing methods, fresh, boiled and pickled in shoots of PF. Comparative study of TP and AC in the above Phyllostachys species shoots has not been reported before. The highest TP (1,227.6 μg GA/ml) and AC (154.0 μg AA/ml) values were measured in fresh shoots and the lowest in pickled ones. The highest values of TP were measured in the case of PA (1,321.95 μg GA/ml). The other taxa followed in decreasing order: PF, PVI, PI, PAA, PB, PAS, PNN, PNH, PM, PH, PSS and PVA. The highest AC values were obtained in the case of PI (184.24 μg AA/ml). The other taxa followed in decreasing order: PA, PF, PSS, PNN, PNH, PVG, PB, PAA, PAS, PV, PVA, PM and PH. The highest TP values were measured in taxa harvested on the first collection date and the values consequently decreased in taxa collected at later harvest dates. Our findings suggest that the earlier harvest date, through the influence of lower temperatures, could enhance the phytochemical content of bamboo shoots.