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Circular Economy for a Sustainable Agri-Food Supply Chain: A Review for Current Trends and Future Pathways

Author

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  • Giulia Chiaraluce

    (Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences (D3A), Università Politecnica Delle, Marche (UNIVPM), 60131 Ancona, Italy)

  • Deborah Bentivoglio

    (Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences (D3A), Università Politecnica Delle, Marche (UNIVPM), 60131 Ancona, Italy)

  • Adele Finco

    (Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences (D3A), Università Politecnica Delle, Marche (UNIVPM), 60131 Ancona, Italy)

Abstract

The current agri-food supply chain is affected by different problems such as food loss and waste generation along the supply chain, and the circular economy offers a possibility to enhance and optimize the production and consumption to seek to a sustainable paradigm. The circular economy can be a winning approach to intervene and moderate the impacts generated in the agri-food sector, proposing actions and solutions to readmit wastes and by-products in the productive chain. The aim of this work was to perform a literature review coupled with a bibliometric analysis, using VOSviewer software, on the circular economy model in the agri-food sector, with particular relevance to the reuse and valorisation of wastes and by-products. Results showed that the topic is of particular relevance in the scientific community, and the concept is continuously evolving. Europe plays a leading role in the research, thanks to the involvement of the Member States, policy makers and stakeholders. Nevertheless, some aspects such as the development of a new economic circular model and some limitations of the current policies deserve further investigation.

Suggested Citation

  • Giulia Chiaraluce & Deborah Bentivoglio & Adele Finco, 2021. "Circular Economy for a Sustainable Agri-Food Supply Chain: A Review for Current Trends and Future Pathways," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-21, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:16:p:9294-:d:617178
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    2. Fahimeh Khatami & Enrico Cagno & Rayeheh Khatami, 2024. "Circular Economy in the Agri-Food System at the Country Level—Evidence from European Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-16, October.
    3. Juan Cristóbal Hernández-Arzaba & Sarfraz Nazir & Sandra Nelly Leyva-Hernández & Sanar Muhyaddin, 2022. "Stakeholder Pressure Engaged with Circular Economy Principles and Economic and Environmental Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-20, December.
    4. Francesco Avallone & Costanza Di Fabio & Shekerta Aliu & Elisa Roncagliolo, 2023. "Shedding light on the preconditions for circular economy: Evidence from SMEs in the agri-food sector," MANAGEMENT CONTROL, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2023(3), pages 141-163.
    5. Giuseppe Craparo & Elisa Isabel Cano Montero & Jesús Fernando Santos Peñalver, 2024. "Trends in the circular economy applied to the agricultural sector in the framework of the SDGs," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(10), pages 26699-26729, October.
    6. Angela Giorgia Potortì & Laura Messina & Patrizia Licata & Enrico Gugliandolo & Antonello Santini & Giuseppa Di Bella, 2024. "Snail Shell Waste Threat to Sustainability and Circular Economy: Novel Application in Food Industries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-17, January.
    7. Daniela Summa & Mattia Lanzoni & Giuseppe Castaldelli & Elisa Anna Fano & Elena Tamburini, 2022. "Trends and Opportunities of Bivalve Shells’ Waste Valorization in a Prospect of Circular Blue Bioeconomy," Resources, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-16, May.

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