Circular Economy in Agriculture: A Systematic Literature Review

Jing Peng, Tomas Baležentis, Dalia Streimikiene, Vida Dabkiene and Giulio Paolo Agnusdei

Sustainable Development, 2025, vol. 33, issue S1, 501-516

Abstract: The agricultural sector consumes energy in various forms while simultaneously generating agricultural waste and wastewater, and remaining a major contributor to carbon emissions. In line with the 3R principles—Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle—circular economy (CE) in agriculture has emerged as a key pathway toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This study investigates the recent developments, applications, and challenges associated with CE in agriculture through a systematic literature review (SLR). A total of 74 high‐impact articles were selected from 388 screened publications based on relevance, citation impact, and journal quality. Descriptive and content analyses were applied to identify key research themes—namely anaerobic digestion, biomass, and sustainability—along with regional disparities, application areas, and methodological approaches. The findings reveal a wide range of technical innovations across agricultural sectors, complemented by managerial and economic solutions. In addition, the review outlines major challenges and research gaps in the field. The study offers a comprehensive synthesis of CE practices in agriculture and provides a valuable reference for future research and implementation.

Date: 2025
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https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.70017

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:wly:sustdv:v:33:y:2025:i:s1:p:501-516

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