and share information about the sustainability of production processes and manufacturers in the form of product labels, allowing consumers to make a more informed
and sustainable decision. De Boer et al. (2014) also indicate that this goal (having
closed-loop food systems) can be realized with the help of supermarkets, food
services, and public food catering, who can make plant-based foods more attractive
to consumers through advertisements, promotions, or discount plans.
Finally, to implement the concept of a circular economy, we need a more holistic
approach in which we consider sustainability at all the different stages of food
systems, from farming to consuming, where the importance of each actor’s role
and decisions cannot be ignored by the other actors. Regardless of the problems and
challenges involved in applying a circular economy to agri-food systems, it is
important for the actors involved in food systems to work together on the basis of
trust, commitment, and knowledge sharing.
References
Agrocycle. (2017). Agrocycle 2017 [Online]. Available: www.agrocycle.eu. Accessed 7 Jan 2020.
Alexandratos, N., & Bruinsma, J. (2012). World agriculture towards 2030/2050: the 2012 revision.
Allen, P. (2010). Realizing justice in local food systems. Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy
and Society, 3(2), 295–308.
Berkes, F., Colding, J., & Folke, C. e. (2008). Navigating social-ecological systems: Building
resilience for complexity and change. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Campanhola, C., & Pandey, S. (2019). Sustainable food and agriculture (pp. 305–330). London:
Academic.
Cordell, D., Drangert, J. O., & White, S. (2009). The story of phosphorus: global food security and
food for thought. Global environmental change, 19(2), 292–305.
de Boer, I. J., & van Ittersum, M. K. (2018). Circularity in agricultural production. In Animal
production systems and plant production systems. Wageningen: Wageningen University and
Research.
de Boer, J., Schösler, H., & Aiking, H. (2014). “Meatless days” or “less but better”? Exploring
strategies to adapt Western meat consumption to health and sustainability challenges. Appetite,
76, 120–128.
Duizer, L. M., Robertson, T., & Han, J. (2009). Requirements for packaging from an ageing
consumer’s perspective. Packaging Technology and Science: An International Journal, 22(4),
187–197.
Elser, J. J. (2012). Phosphorus: a limiting nutrient for humanity? Current Opinion in Biotechnology,
23(6), 833–838.
EP. (2011). How to avoid food wastage: strategies for a more efficient food chain in the EU.
Brussels: European Parliament.
European Commission. (2017). Report from the Commission to the European Parliament, the
Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on
the Implementation of Circular Economy Action Plan, Brussel, 26.1.2017, Com (2017) 33 final.
FAO. (2011). Global food losses and food waste—Extent, causes and prevention. Rome: FAO.
Geissdoerfer, M., Savaget, P., Bocken, N. M. P., & Hultink, E. J. (2017, February 1). The circular
economy – A new sustainability paradigm? Journal of Cleaner Production, 143, 757–768.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.12.048.
68
N. Salimi
and sustainable decision. De Boer et al. (2014) also indicate that this goal (having
closed-loop food systems) can be realized with the help of supermarkets, food
services, and public food catering, who can make plant-based foods more attractive
to consumers through advertisements, promotions, or discount plans.
Finally, to implement the concept of a circular economy, we need a more holistic
approach in which we consider sustainability at all the different stages of food
systems, from farming to consuming, where the importance of each actor’s role
and decisions cannot be ignored by the other actors. Regardless of the problems and
challenges involved in applying a circular economy to agri-food systems, it is
important for the actors involved in food systems to work together on the basis of
trust, commitment, and knowledge sharing.
References
Agrocycle. (2017). Agrocycle 2017 [Online]. Available: www.agrocycle.eu. Accessed 7 Jan 2020.
Alexandratos, N., & Bruinsma, J. (2012). World agriculture towards 2030/2050: the 2012 revision.
Allen, P. (2010). Realizing justice in local food systems. Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy
and Society, 3(2), 295–308.
Berkes, F., Colding, J., & Folke, C. e. (2008). Navigating social-ecological systems: Building
resilience for complexity and change. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Campanhola, C., & Pandey, S. (2019). Sustainable food and agriculture (pp. 305–330). London:
Academic.
Cordell, D., Drangert, J. O., & White, S. (2009). The story of phosphorus: global food security and
food for thought. Global environmental change, 19(2), 292–305.
de Boer, I. J., & van Ittersum, M. K. (2018). Circularity in agricultural production. In Animal
production systems and plant production systems. Wageningen: Wageningen University and
Research.
de Boer, J., Schösler, H., & Aiking, H. (2014). “Meatless days” or “less but better”? Exploring
strategies to adapt Western meat consumption to health and sustainability challenges. Appetite,
76, 120–128.
Duizer, L. M., Robertson, T., & Han, J. (2009). Requirements for packaging from an ageing
consumer’s perspective. Packaging Technology and Science: An International Journal, 22(4),
187–197.
Elser, J. J. (2012). Phosphorus: a limiting nutrient for humanity? Current Opinion in Biotechnology,
23(6), 833–838.
EP. (2011). How to avoid food wastage: strategies for a more efficient food chain in the EU.
Brussels: European Parliament.
European Commission. (2017). Report from the Commission to the European Parliament, the
Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on
the Implementation of Circular Economy Action Plan, Brussel, 26.1.2017, Com (2017) 33 final.
FAO. (2011). Global food losses and food waste—Extent, causes and prevention. Rome: FAO.
Geissdoerfer, M., Savaget, P., Bocken, N. M. P., & Hultink, E. J. (2017, February 1). The circular
economy – A new sustainability paradigm? Journal of Cleaner Production, 143, 757–768.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.12.048.
68
N. Salimi