An Evolutionary Approach on the Framework of Circular Economy Applied to Agriculture

Abstract

In this current and global context led by scarcity of resources, environmental degradation, global climate change, and a progressive demand for food, the circular economy (CE) represents a key economic model or framework for sustainable, restorative, and regenerative agriculture. Hence, CE applied to agriculture seeks to close the life cycle of products, services, waste, water, and energy to obtain a better use of resources and a reduction of the ecological impact. An initial review of the literature corroborates the hypothesis that the CE framework has not yet been comprehensively adapted to the field of agriculture. This research seeks to overcome this gap in relation to the performance of the circularity of agricultural production systems in support of decision-making processes. A bibliometric analysis of 1060 documents was carried to synthesize the knowledge base on this topic. The results show recent studies that identify weaknesses derived from food production, such as waste generation, biomass, water pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. It has been identified how their analysis has developed to date and what terms allow us to visualize new approaches; consequently, it is a useful tool for researchers and sponsors who provide financial resources for the development of new lines of research.

The Circular Economy as an Axis of Agricultural and Rural Development: The Case of the Municipality of Almócita (Almería, Spain)

“…These processes, such as the use of own compost, can help and provide new lines of research within the CE and related areas, creating new synergies and deposits such as the one followed by slaughterhouse waste [99] by applying several technologies since one cannot finish with all pathogens [100]. This model of life is permeating society and slowly this generalizing influence is helping to create a more sustainable behaviour that promotes CC-based business models, such as the sale of organic compost [101], although further research of a practical nature is needed [102].…”

Toward a Socio-Political Approach to Promote the Development of Circular Agriculture: A Critical Review

“…Many studies have integrated and analyzed many aspects of circular agriculture by review. According to a literature review from 2005 to 2012, the key words used in circular agriculture research include sustainable development, sustainability, recycling, agricultural robots, waste management, and biomass [ 37 ]. Some scholars have reviewed the technical knowledge on agricultural residue management [ 38 , 39 , 40 ] and found that anaerobic digestion and composting is the most explored technology in the scientific literature [ 41 ], and poultry manure composting is a potential recycling technology [ 42 , 43 ].…”

Toward the circular economy into the olive oil supply chain: A case study analysis of a vertically integrated firm

“…Besides its restorative function within the nutrient cycles, digestate, being rich in organic matter, can contribute to maintaining and likely enhancing soil fertility. The latter goes in the direction of the regenerative function of CE (Morseletto, 2020;Velasco-Muñoz et al, 2021;Batlles-delaFuente et al, 2022). At the same time, the heat produced during the anaerobic treatment entails a sanitation process, dramatically decreasing the pathogenic bacteria load and making the product safe to be used for agronomic applications (Weiland, 2010;Möller and Müller, 2012;Nkoa, 2014;Albuquerque et al, 2019).…”

“…Indeed, there is a literature gap in empirical studies regarding the adoption of new business models within the context of CE (Antikainen and Valkokari, 2016;Piispanen et al, 2020). Moreover, the CE framework has not yet been comprehensively adapted to specific fields such as that of agri-food systems (Batlles-delaFuente et al, 2022), although they represent the most important supply chains for the consumer good industry (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2013a).…”

“…This work contributes to building the empirically grounded, scientific knowledge needed to foster practical transition processes in the agri-food sector (Esposito et al, 2020;Batlles-delaFuente et al, 2022;De Angelis, 2022). It examines, in-depth, a promising pathway for applying CE into the olive oil supply chain, which is economically relevant in the Mediterranean region.…”