Circular Economy in Agricultural, Fisheries, and Foods

Dear Colleagues,

The Special Issue aims to shed light on the potential environmental benefits of the circular economy in the context of agriculture, fisheries, and foods and to explore ways to maximize these benefits while ensuring sustainable practices. The circular economy is a concept that promotes the reuse, refurbishment, repair, and recycling of products and materials, in contrast to the traditional linear economy that follows a "take-make-use-dispose" model. In the context of agriculture, the circular economy can help reduce waste, conserve resources, and minimize the environmental impact of production, processing, and consumption.

Overall, the Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the environmental impact of circular economy practices in primary productions, and to identify pathways for enhancing sustainable food production and consumption through circular economy principles.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to examine the environmental impact of circular economy practices in agriculture, from the perspective of agricultural economics and sustainability. This includes topics such as: the impact of circular economy practices on soil health, water quality, and biodiversity conservation; the economic benefits and costs of implementing circular economy practices in agriculture and fisheries, including the potential for increased resource efficiency, reduced waste, and improved profitability; the role of circular economy practices in mitigating climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions; the potential of circular economy practices to enhance food security and promote sustainable food systems; and the challenges and opportunities for implementing circular economy practices, including policy and institutional frameworks, technological innovation, and consumer behavior.

The scope of the Special Issue includes both theoretical and empirical research, as well as case studies and policy analyses that contribute to a better understanding of the environmental impact of circular economy practices in the agrifood sector. The Special Issue welcomes contributions from a wide range of disciplines, including agricultural economics, environmental science, ecology, agronomy, and engineering.

The agriculture and fisheries sector plays a critical role in ensuring food security and providing livelihoods for millions of people around the world. However, conventional practices often come at a cost to the environment, including soil degradation, water pollution, biodiversity loss, and greenhouse gas emissions. To address these environmental challenges, there is growing interest in the concept of the circular economy, which aims to promote a more sustainable and efficient use of resources through the reuse, repair, and recycling of products and materials.

The circular economy has the potential to transform the way we produce and consume food, and to promote more sustainable agricultural practices. By adopting circular economy principles, farmers, fisheries, and food producers can reduce waste, conserve resources, and minimize their environmental impact, while also improving their profitability and resilience to climate change. In addition, circular economy practices can contribute to broader sustainability goals, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions, conserving biodiversity, and promoting social equity.

Despite these potential benefits, there is still a need for more research on the environmental impact of circular economy practices in agriculture, and on the ways in which these practices can be effectively implemented at different scales and in different contexts. This Special Issue aims to address this research gap by bringing together leading scholars and practitioners in the fields of food economics, sustainability, and circular economy to explore the potential of circular economy practices in agriculture, and to identify the challenges and opportunities for their implementation.

Through this Special Issue, we hope to contribute to a better understanding of the potential environmental benefits of circular economy practices in agriculture, fisheries, and foods, and to identify strategies for promoting more sustainable and resilient systems. This research area is of critical importance for addressing the environmental challenges facing the primary production, and for promoting a more sustainable and equitable food system for all.

The aim of this Special Issue is to explore the environmental impact of circular economy practices in agriculture, fisheries, and foods from the perspective of economics and sustainability. Specifically, the Special Issue seeks to:

• Evaluate the potential of circular economy practices to reduce the environmental impact of food production and processing, and to promote more sustainable and efficient use of resources.
• Identify the economic benefits and costs of implementing circular economy practices in agriculture and fisheries, and the potential for these practices to improve the profitability and resilience of the primary sector.
• Analyze the policy and institutional frameworks that can support the adoption of circular economy practices in agriculture and fisheries, and the role of technological innovation and consumer behavior in driving change.

The subject matter of this Special Issue is highly relevant to the scope of the journal, which focuses on the intersection of agriculture, economics, and sustainability. The journal seeks to publish research that addresses the environmental, economic, and social challenges facing the agricultural sector, and to promote the development of more sustainable and equitable food systems. The Special Issue aligns with these goals by exploring the potential of circular economy practices to enhance sustainability in agriculture, and by examining the economic and policy factors that can support or hinder the adoption of these practices. The Special Issue also contributes to the broader scientific and policy discourse on circular economy and sustainability and provides insights for practitioners and decision makers seeking to promote sustainable and resilient agricultural systems.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

1. The impact of circular economy practices on soil health, water quality, and biodiversity conservation.
2. The economic benefits and costs of implementing circular economy practices, including the potential for increased resource efficiency, reduced waste, and improved profitability.
3. The role of circular economy practices in mitigating climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the agricultural sector.
4. The potential of circular economy practices to enhance food security and promote sustainable food systems.
5. The challenges and opportunities for implementing circular economy practices in agriculture, including policy and institutional frameworks, technological innovation, and consumer behavior.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Francesco Bozzo
Dr. Alessandro Petrontino
Dr. Fabio A. Madau
Guest Editors

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• circular economy
• agriculture
• sustainability
• resource efficiency
• environmental impact
• economic benefits
• policy frameworks
• technological innovation
• food security
• climate change mitigation