Evaluating Environmental and Energy Performance Indicators of Food Systems, within Circular Economy and “Farm to Fork” Frameworks

Patrizia Ghisellini (), Amos Ncube, Gloria Rotolo, Chiara Vassillo, Serena Kaiser, Renato Passaro and Sergio Ulgiati
Additional contact information
Patrizia Ghisellini: Department of Engineering, University of Naples “Parthenope”, 80143 Naples, Italy
Amos Ncube: International PhD Programme/UNESCO Chair “Environment, Resources and Sustainable Development” Department of Science and Technology, University of Naples “Parthenope”, 80143 Naples, Italy
Gloria Rotolo: Oliveros Agricultural Experimental Station (EEA Oliveros), National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA), Oliveros 2206, Argentina
Chiara Vassillo: Department of Engineering, University of Naples “Parthenope”, 80143 Naples, Italy
Serena Kaiser: International PhD Programme/UNESCO Chair “Environment, Resources and Sustainable Development” Department of Science and Technology, University of Naples “Parthenope”, 80143 Naples, Italy
Renato Passaro: Department of Engineering, University of Naples “Parthenope”, 80143 Naples, Italy
Sergio Ulgiati: Department of Science and Technology, University of Naples “Parthenope”, 80143 Naples, Italy

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 4, 1-38

Abstract: This study proposes a framework of environmental and energy performance indicators identified and critically evaluated within the scientific literature and the Agricultural European Database for the monitoring and evaluation of the Common Agricultural Policy of the European Union. The identified set of performance indicators encompasses the whole life cycle of agri-food systems from primary production stage until end-of-life stage in agreement with the circular economy and EU “farm to fork strategy” frameworks. In particular, the practices/goals/targets suggested in the latter (e.g., organic farming goals, more relevance assigned to plant-based diets, support for the creation of short supply chains, and reduction in food losses and waste) have guided the search for the main topics of interest in our analysis and the associated environmental and energy indicators. The results of this study evidence a proposed set of performance indicators selected from the literature among LCA and non-LCA indicators (midpoint LCA impacts, cumulative energy use, emergy accounting, and material flow accounting, among others) that could be helpful in integrating the EU CAP indicators for monitoring and evaluating efforts and achieved results toward implementing and controlling the effectiveness of the adopted “farm to fork” policy and related legislative measures, as well as the application of the circular economy model.

Keywords: environmental indicators; energy indicators; circular economy; farm to fork strategy; common agricultural policy; food supply chain; Mediterranean diet; food waste valorisation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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