Digital Pathways Toward Sustainability in Agri-Food Waste: A Systematic Review

Riccardo Censi, Paola Campana, Anna Maria Tarola () and Roberto Ruggieri
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Riccardo Censi: Department of Management, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Paola Campana: Department of Management, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Anna Maria Tarola: Department of Management, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Roberto Ruggieri: Department of Management, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy

Resources, 2025, vol. 14, issue 8, 1-22

Abstract: The growing environmental and economic impacts of agri-food waste have intensified interest in digital and circular strategies for more sustainable resource management. This study investigates how digital technologies are being applied to enhance the circular management of agri-food waste. A systematic literature review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines, using Scopus as the primary database. The bibliometric analysis included 373 publications from 2015 to 2025 and was complemented by a thematic review of the 20 most cited articles. Results revealed six major research clusters, ranging from predictive waste analytics and smart traceability systems to circular bioeconomy applications such as anaerobic digestion and pyrolysis. In addition, the study examined structural indicators such as food waste per capita and hunger indices to contextualize geographic disparities in research output. The findings underscore the dual role of digital technologies as both operational tools and mechanisms for reducing systemic inequalities. Overall, the integration of intelligent systems and circular models offers promising pathways to support the Sustainable Development Goals and foster a more inclusive and resilient agri-food sector.

Keywords: agri-food waste; digital twin; circular economy; artificial intelligence; sustainable development goals (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jresou:v:14:y:2025:i:8:p:126-:d:1722083

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