Challenges and Opportunities of Circular Economy in Agri-Food Sector: Rethinking Waste

The global population is predicted to be over 9 billion by 2050, and the production systems will demolish 140 billion tons of minerals, ores, fossil fuels, and biomass. Optimized resource usage, lifecycle management, and reduced carbon emission have become a priority for agri-food businesses. Circular economy (CE) helps for a sustainable and flexible way to grow without exhausting primary materials. The book calls for theoretical and empirically sound contributions to the circular economy, 6Rs, sustainable production and consumption, closed-loop systems, and other aspects of the agri-food sector.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 260 pages
Publication date: 16 September 2022
Publisher: Springer Verlag, Singapore

The world's population is expected to reach an astounding 9 billion by 2050, a staggering increase that will require a significant overhaul of our production systems. According to projections, we will need to demolish approximately 140 billion tons of minerals, ores, fossil fuels, and biomass each year, triple the current demand. This unprecedented demand will put immense pressure on our food production systems, necessitating a doubling of agricultural output.

In response to these challenges, agri-food businesses have prioritized optimized resource usage, lifecycle management, and reduced carbon emissions. The circular economy (CE) has emerged as a powerful tool for achieving sustainable and flexible growth without depleting our primary resources. CE goes beyond traditional recycling and resource utilization, focusing on resource and efficiency management, the 6Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle, repair, and rethink), closed-loop production systems, zero waste, and lifecycle engineering.

By implementing these principles, CE enables agri-food businesses to reduce overconsumption of resources and waste generation, while enriching system redesign and business model innovation. This, in turn, contributes to the achievement of sustainable development goals.

The book seeks to contribute to the understanding and development of the circular economy, 6Rs, sustainable production and consumption, closed-loop systems, and other relevant aspects in the agri-food sector. It welcomes theoretical and empirically sound contributions that address these critical issues and provide insights into the potential of the circular economy to transform the agri-food industry.

Weight: 434g
Dimension: 234 x 156 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789811637933
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021