Concept of Circular Economy Principles Applied to Livestock & Agriculture: From Farm to Fork
What is a circular economy?
Traditionally, many industries operate under a linear economic model in which businesses create products for consumption without regard to environmental costs. In this model, consumers discard the product when they are finished with it, and goods flow in one direction: into landfills.
In contrast, a circular economic model promotes a sustainable value chain.
Circularity has three goals: reduce waste, protect the environment and repurpose materials so they can be turned into something else of value. A circular model closes the value-chain loop and lessens waste by reusing, recycling and repurposing materials and byproducts from every stage of a product’s lifecycle.
Many farms tend to operate in a linear model, producing and distributing crops in ways that are not yet sustainable. Farmers sometimes utilize harmful chemicals and practices that maximize crop yields at the cost of the environment. Food processing often contributes to pollution, as does the disposal of unsold crops and products. In a linear model, product packaging fills dustbins, harsh pesticides wreak havoc on ecosystems and food waste represents a loss of revenue.
Circular systems and programs can equip the agriculture sector with tools and innovative ways of doing business that unlock value and promote sustainability. They can also help organizations stay ahead of future regulations and earn the distinction of being first movers. Moreover, circularity enables businesses to distinguish themselves from competitors and capture emerging markets by highlighting their sustainable practices.
Figure 1: Lifecycle of circular economy
A circular economy describes an economic system that is based on business models which replace the ‘end-of-life’ concept with reducing, alternatively reusing, recycling and recovering materials in production/distribution and consumption processes, thus operating at the micro level (products, companies, consumers), macro level (eco-industrial parks) and macro level (city, region, nation and beyond), with the aim to accomplish sustainable development, which implies creating environmental quality economic prosperity and social equity, to the benefit of current and future generations”
Agriculture is a critical sector of the indian economy, providing the food, feed, and bioresources that help sustain society. This sector in particular is at the centre of the challenges associated with population growth, food security, climate change and resource scarcity. In the last 50 years, agriculture has become more resource intensive, relying heavily on the availability of fossil inputs in the form of synthetic nitrogen and phosphorus fertilisers, oil derived agrochemicals and fossil fuels. ‘Circular economy’ principles can offer many opportunities for agriculture in general, and livestock production in particular, to become more resource efficient.
The ‘Circular’ v. ‘Linear’ Economy: The ‘circular economy’ is a generic term for an industrial economy that is producing no waste and pollution, and in which material flows are of two types: biological nutrients, designed to re-enter the biosphere safely, and ‘technical’ nutrients, which are designed to circulate at high quality in the production system without entering the biosphere as well as being restorative and regenerative by design. This is in contrast to a ‘linear economy’ which is a ‘take, make, dispose’ model of production.
Livestock production and agriculture are mainly linear in structure, utilising quite high levels of inputs, a large proportion of which is not converted into edible products but instead results in wasteful and environmentally damaging outputs. The UN FAO estimate that inefficiencies in the global food economy cost between $1-2 trillion per annum (FAO, 2011). Ultimately, when analysing the entire agri-food chain, up to one third of the food produced for human consumption is wasted (FAO, 2011). This waste equates to lost money as well as the resources that were invested in its production. ‘Circular economy’ in agriculture centres on the production of agricultural commodities using a minimal amount of external inputs, closing nutrient loops and reducing negative discharges to the environment (in the form of wastes and emissions). Examining the entire agri-food system from the ‘circular economy’ perspective can reveal opportunities at all stages, from primary production using precision agriculture techniques, to the recycling and utilisation of agricultural wastes.
As the global demand for food and fiber continues to rise, the need for sustainable agriculture practices has never been more urgent. Embracing the principles of a circular economy offers a promising approach to address the challenges faced by the agricultural sector. By focusing on reducing waste, reusing resources, and recycling materials, circular agriculture can contribute to a more resilient and sustainable food system. This blog post explores how circular economy principles can be applied across the agricultural supply chain, from farm to fork.
There are three core principles to a circular economy. It must:
- eliminatewaste and pollution,
- circulateproducts and materials,
- and regenerate
The food system’s current linear model of “take, make, and dispose” results in significant waste, highlighting the need to transition from a linear food economy to a circular one. A circular food economy offers a life cycle framework that comprehensively manages resources from production to consumption and waste disposal, fostering sustainability for the long run. In a circular economy, resources are not lost during production and disposal but are instead returned and renewed, mirroring the cyclical nature of the natural living world. This framework seeks to redesign the economy’s operating system so that it preserves the quality and utility of materials beyond their individual product shelf life by repurposing waste into new products. This cyclical approach aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 12, which emphasizes responsible consumption and production to reduce material footprints in countries. Goal 12 serves as a framework for countries to understand the entire life cycle of resources resulting from their societal economic activities and strive toward multilateral solutions for the collective goal of sustainable development.
Redesigning the current food system into a circular food economy is crucial. In this system, the end goal is not the waste of a product but the repurposing of unused food materials into by-products such as fertilizer, animal feed, and even new shelf products for human consumption. This shift in the production, distribution, and consumption of food could potentially achieve $2.7 trillion in savings by 2050. Beyond reducing landfill waste, it also creates opportunities to provide more affordable choices, thereby enhancing food security by maximizing material utility. For instance, an increasing number of supermarkets now offer “ugly” fruits and vegetables, originally considered as food waste due to their flawed appearance, as more affordable produce choices for consumers on tighter budgets. This simultaneously provides customers with affordable nutrient options and adds value to resources, reducing food waste from retail stores.
Closing the Agricultural Loop Through Circular Economy Principles
The concept of a circular economy revolves around closing the loop of resource use, minimizing waste, and maximizing value. In the context of sustainable agriculture, this means designing farming systems that utilize resources efficiently and minimize environmental impact. Practices such as crop rotation, composting, and integrated pest management are examples of circular agriculture methods that enhance soil health, reduce chemical inputs, and promote biodiversity. By adopting these practices, farmers can create more resilient and sustainable agricultural systems.
Applying circular economy principles across the agricultural supply chain.
Sustainable Supply Chain Management
Agricultural supply chains play a critical role in determining the sustainability of our food system. Adopting circular economy principles in supply chain management involves optimizing logistics, reducing food waste, and promoting responsible sourcing. Technologies such as blockchain can enhance transparency and traceability, allowing stakeholders to track the journey of food and fiber products from farm to fork. By integrating circularity into supply chain management, global food and fiber corporations can improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance sustainability.
Consumer Engagement and Education
Consumer behavior has a significant impact on the demand for sustainable agriculture products. Educating consumers about the benefits of circular agriculture and empowering them to make informed choices can drive market demand for sustainable products. Campaigns promoting local and seasonal produce, reducing food waste at home, and supporting circular economy initiatives can raise awareness and foster a culture of sustainability. Engaging consumers in the journey from farm to fork can create a more sustainable food system that values environmental stewardship and social responsibility.
Innovative Technologies and Research
Advancements in technology and research play a crucial role in advancing sustainable agriculture and circular economy principles. Innovations such as precision agriculture, biotechnology, and renewable energy can help farmers optimize resource use, improve productivity, and reduce environmental impact. Collaborative research initiatives involving academia, industry, and government can drive innovation and develop solutions to complex challenges faced by the agricultural sector. By investing in research and technology, global food and fiber corporations can lead the way in adopting circular economy principles and promoting sustainable agriculture.
Applying circular economy principles to agriculture offers a holistic approach to addressing the challenges of feeding a growing global population while protecting our planet’s resources. From closing the agricultural loop and optimizing supply chain management to engaging consumers and fostering innovation, there are numerous opportunities to integrate circularity into every aspect of the agricultural sector. By embracing these principles, global food and fiber corporations can contribute to building a resilient and sustainable food system for future generations.
In the agricultural and food systems context, CE tends to be termed circular bioeconomy to distinguish from circularity in manufacturing, which tends to rely more on extracted non-renewable resources. CE is often conflated with farm-to-fork and supply chain responsibility rhetoric, which encompasses life cycle and traceability elements prior to and beyond the farm gate and which typically implicitly refer to farming and food systems in upper-income countries. Due to its biological complexity, and as an adjunct to natural ecosystem processes, agriculture offers some of the clearest examples of circular resource use, many of which have evolved over centuries of practice and formal and informal knowledge exchange in transitional low input and extensive farming systems (Figure 1). Examples include the observance of seasonality in production to match crop calendars with peak growing conditions, the use of crop residues in animal feeds, soil nutrient augmentation from livestock and human waste and optimised use of other animal bio products including for renewable energy production. These practices highlight the interdependence between crop and animal production, and the development of genetic technologies and breeding etc. has broadened the scope for increasing their efficiency in some contexts.
The utilisation of animal manure and food residues along the agri-food supply chain as nutrient sources should reduce the amount of fossil mineral fertilisers required to produce food. For example, the low cost Irish grass-based rotational grazing system for milk, and to a lesser extent beef production, requires ‘circularisation’ of animal manure in order to be cost effective and is readily controlled because the cycle occurs usually within a single farm holding i.e. the scale of animal manure production matches the land resource available. In contrast, it can be more difficult to manage ‘confinement production systems’ (such as intensive pig or poultry production) in a ‘circular’ manner Creating demands for perceived ‘wastes’ creates a trade of waste. The UK Refit scheme for AD, for example, has made it economically profitable to transport agri-food wastes large distances from the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland in order for it to become feedstock for AD plants. This example highlight the potential trade-off between environmental and economic benefits created by policy-based ‘circularisation’ strategies that use economics as an implementation ‘driver’.
The circular bioeconomy concept captures some important principles around reuse, recycling and nutrient use effi ciency in farming practice. As we have seen in this paper, smallholder agriculture in India has many of these principles at its core, more out of necessity than because of any ideological adherence to sustainable agriculture. In common with various other “natural agriculture movements” that have gained prominence in recent years, there has been a tendency to attempt to transplant ideas/ ideologies derived from Global North discourse to Global South farming systems but as has been pointed out by others this is often not sensible .We have attempted to emphasise the extent to which Sub-Saharan Africa farmers lead the way in terms of applying circular bioeconomy approaches in their farming practice. The big question is about what happens next. India is eventually likely to follow the trajectory of farming intensification seen in other global regions, with specializa tion into crop and livestock production, increasing size of operations and the potential negative environmental consequences of such intensification that are characteristic of industrialised agriculture in other parts of the world. There is, however, scope to maintain circularity and resource use efficiency in Indian farming and we have pointed out some candidate innovations in the livestock feed sector that could be transformational. Adoption of such innovations at scale is unlikely without significant public support to provide appropriate incentives; the market is unlikely to enable widespread uptake because of technical and economic barriers to adoption (Baltenweck et al., 2020). The challenge for policy makers is to find appropriate ways to incentivise promising circular bioeconomy measures to enhance the efficiency of production and reduce the environmental costs of intensification of farming in India.
Edited & Shared by-Team LITD
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