– To apply a “just-in-time” strategy, there are some requirements and conditions,
for instance, coordination between production and logistics and sharing knowledge between the two can help minimize avoid waste (Halloran et al. 2014).
– Creating and increasing trust and loyalty between retailers and producers will
help reduce food waste (Weber et al. 2011).
– Understanding the buying habits and behavior of consumers helps reduce food
waste. Essentially, consumers decide to buy products based visual aspects, which
means that design and packaging are important factors. Also, offering the right
packaging size may increase the consumption of a product before it goes to waste
(Halloran et al. 2014).
5 Conclusions
In this chapter, we discussed a very challenging issue in the world: circular economy
in agri-food systems. We discussed the main problems involved in applying a
circular economy in agri-food systems, in light of the specific characteristics of
this system, and examined what regulations can help create agri-food systems where
materials and products maintain their value as much as possible.
Applying a circular economy to agri-food systems in which different actors work
together in different ways and where their decisions affect one another means we
need to start by looking at the actors involved and motivate them to use finite and
shrinking natural resources in ways that are sustainable (Halloran et al. 2014). It is
essential for the different actors in our food systems to work together and share
knowledge (FAO 2011). For instance, the collaboration and coordination among the
actors involved in production and those involved in logistics are needed to reduce
and prevent waste as much as possible. Data and knowledge directly affect the
amount of waste being produced, and it is important for the actors to come together
and work out how and what data to share (Halloran et al. 2014).
At the food production stage, it is important to explore the recovery of phosphors.
Schösler et al. (2015) suggested using new policies and technologies to compensate
all exported phosphor from farms through waste instead of using phosphate rock.
Moreover, localized food systems improve the quality, equity, and security of food.
As such, policy regulations, like implementing tax incentives for recovering nutrients and encouraging local farmers to sell their products locally, can bring us closer
to a circular economy in agriculture (Jurgilevich et al. 2016). In fact, tax incentives
may provide farmers with the funds they need to operate their business locally.
At the food consumption stage, consumers play a crucial role in the choices they
make. In fact, moving people away from a meat-based diet (which uses huge
amounts of nutrients and energy) to a plant-based one (which is more sustainable)
will make food systems more sustainable. Jurgilevich et al. (2016) suggest providing
educational programs to consumers to make them aware of the consequences of their
food-related choices and show them how they can control and prevent waste at this
stage. Moreover, it is important for producers to be transparent towards consumers
4 Circular Economy in Agri-food Systems
67
for instance, coordination between production and logistics and sharing knowledge between the two can help minimize avoid waste (Halloran et al. 2014).
– Creating and increasing trust and loyalty between retailers and producers will
help reduce food waste (Weber et al. 2011).
– Understanding the buying habits and behavior of consumers helps reduce food
waste. Essentially, consumers decide to buy products based visual aspects, which
means that design and packaging are important factors. Also, offering the right
packaging size may increase the consumption of a product before it goes to waste
(Halloran et al. 2014).
5 Conclusions
In this chapter, we discussed a very challenging issue in the world: circular economy
in agri-food systems. We discussed the main problems involved in applying a
circular economy in agri-food systems, in light of the specific characteristics of
this system, and examined what regulations can help create agri-food systems where
materials and products maintain their value as much as possible.
Applying a circular economy to agri-food systems in which different actors work
together in different ways and where their decisions affect one another means we
need to start by looking at the actors involved and motivate them to use finite and
shrinking natural resources in ways that are sustainable (Halloran et al. 2014). It is
essential for the different actors in our food systems to work together and share
knowledge (FAO 2011). For instance, the collaboration and coordination among the
actors involved in production and those involved in logistics are needed to reduce
and prevent waste as much as possible. Data and knowledge directly affect the
amount of waste being produced, and it is important for the actors to come together
and work out how and what data to share (Halloran et al. 2014).
At the food production stage, it is important to explore the recovery of phosphors.
Schösler et al. (2015) suggested using new policies and technologies to compensate
all exported phosphor from farms through waste instead of using phosphate rock.
Moreover, localized food systems improve the quality, equity, and security of food.
As such, policy regulations, like implementing tax incentives for recovering nutrients and encouraging local farmers to sell their products locally, can bring us closer
to a circular economy in agriculture (Jurgilevich et al. 2016). In fact, tax incentives
may provide farmers with the funds they need to operate their business locally.
At the food consumption stage, consumers play a crucial role in the choices they
make. In fact, moving people away from a meat-based diet (which uses huge
amounts of nutrients and energy) to a plant-based one (which is more sustainable)
will make food systems more sustainable. Jurgilevich et al. (2016) suggest providing
educational programs to consumers to make them aware of the consequences of their
food-related choices and show them how they can control and prevent waste at this
stage. Moreover, it is important for producers to be transparent towards consumers
4 Circular Economy in Agri-food Systems
67