ManuREfinery at centre of International Conference on Sustainability and Social Acceptance in Florence

A flagship biorefinery project takes center stage, bridging technology and public trust for a circular future.

The ManuREfinery project will be a main focal point at a major upcoming international conference hosted by the University of Florence. Titled “Sustainability Science and the Agenda 2030. The Psychology of Sustainability and Sustainable Development framework for Social Acceptance: Contributing to a Sustainable Sustainability”, the hybrid event will take place on Wednesday, June 3, 2026. The conference bridges environmental engineering with organizational psychology to tackle the critical challenge of public trust and social acceptance of circular bioeconomy technologies like those developed by ManuREfinery. Bringing together experts from engineering, psychology, sustainability science, and innovation, the conference will explore how technological progress and human behavior must work together to drive a truly sustainable future.

While ManuREfinery’s technological solutions to manage agricultural waste and recover nutrients are rapidly advancing across Europe, their ultimate success depends heavily on community engagement. This event brings together top scientists to examine how psychological frameworks support the public adoption of these sustainable agricultural innovations.

ManuREfinery Innovations in the Spotlight

As a flagship initiative transforming livestock manure into high-value bio-based feed ingredients and renewable fertilizers, ManuREfinery will feature prominently in two key scientific sessions during the day’s program:

• Social Life Cycle Assessment (11:30 CET): Emeritus Professor Giampaolo Manfrida (University of Florence) will present on how ManuREfinery evaluates the socio-economic impacts of its nutrient recycling systems.
• Advancements and Challenges (14:00 CET): Professor Daniele Fiaschi (University of Florence) will deliver a keynote address detailing the technical milestones, scaling successes, and next steps for the project’s modular biorefinery lines.

A Cross-Disciplinary Lineup

The conference features prominent global experts, including keynote lectures from Prof. Marc A. Rosen (University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Canada) on the mechanics of social acceptance, and Prof. Annamaria Di Fabio (University of Florence) on the psychology of sustainability.

The event will conclude with an interactive Round Table at 17:00 CET. This panel will bring together engineers, psychologists, and agricultural leaders—including representatives from Coldiretti and COSVIG—to debate real-world pathways for deploying circular economy innovations in rural communities.

Event & Registration Information

As a public engagement event, the conference is free of charge and open to citizens, researchers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders.

• Date: Wednesday, June 3, 2026 | 8:30 – 18:30 CET
• Venue: School of Psychology, Room 11, via della Torretta, 16, Florence, Italy
• Format: Hybrid (In-person and online livestream)
• Registration: Attendance is free, but registration is mandatory. Interested participants should email annamaria.difabio@unifi.it.

Explore the full conference program below to see where ManuREfinery and global sustainability experts will take the stage: