Participatory modelling of scenarios to restore nitrogen cycles in a nutrient-saturated area

This paper aims to find socially acceptable solutions of circularity as measure to reduce nitrogen (N) losses and prevent environmental damage by combining participatory modelling and scenario Substance Flow Analyses (SFA). A local perspective was taken on the agro-food-waste system in the animal production-dominated German district Cleves. Three scenarios were programmed as Monte Carlo simulation of SFA with stakeholder input regarding crop allocation, livestock composition, livestock reduction, and manure allocation following the elimination of feed imports. The three scenarios either utilized the unaltered stakeholder input (PS), altered crop allocation to satisfy the demand for feed (CBS), or adjusted the livestock numbers to match the locally available feed (LBS). In the reference year (2020) agricultural losses amounted to 68 kg N year-1 ha-1 agricultural land and 116 kg N in feed was imported year-1 ha-1 agricultural land. In the PS feed import elimination led to deficits in feed availability. The LBS showed the biggest reduction of agricultural N losses and improved N use efficiency (+6 %), however agricultural losses were still high (50 kg N year-1 ha-1 agricultural land). The results show a limited effect of feed import elimination on N losses if no further measures are taken, such as reduced consumption of animal-based products. Further, the study shows that it is important to improve stakeholders' knowledge about approaches to circular agro-food-waste systems. The discrepancy between stakeholder visions and N circularity provide policy makers with the recommendation to improve stakeholders' visions of a circular agro-food-waste system.

Project management and circular economy in agribusiness: A systematic literature review

This article aims to identify how project management can enable the introduction of circular economy (CE) in agribusiness. The methodological strategy used was the systematic literature review. The research corpus consisted of 70 articles selected from the Web of Science and Scopus databases. For screening, the Rayyan platform was used, and the analysis process was carried out by categorization and grouping of terms and concepts with the help of Excel software. The evidence shown the efforts to reduce agro-waste and how to transform them into by-products. Barriers, challenges, benefits and opportunities for making the CE viable in agribusiness are presented. Three ways of projecting the CE in agribusiness are identified: (1) project management processes in the integration of the CE in agribusiness, (2) innovative projects and new business models as drivers of the CE in agribusiness and (3) 4.0 technologies integrating the CE in agribusiness based on project management methodologies. Results are limited to terms used in search mechanisms. This research contributes towards identifying project management processes that can enable the CE in agribusiness, particularly by identifying the impacts of the CE in different business areas. The research also contributes in a practical way by providing insights on ways to make the CE viable in agribusiness through project management.

ASAS-NANP symposium: mathematical modeling in animal nutrition: agent-based modeling for livestock systems: the mechanics of development and application

Over the last three decades, agent-based modeling/model (ABM) has been one of the most powerful and valuable simulation-based decision modeling techniques used to study the complex dynamic interactions between animals and their environment. ABM is a relatively new modeling technique in the animal research arena, with immense potential for routine decision-making in livestock systems. We describe ABM's fundamental characteristics for developing intelligent modeling systems, exemplify its use for livestock production, and describe commonly used software for designing and developing ABM. After that, we discuss several aspects of the developmental mechanics of an ABM, including (1) how livestock researchers can conceptualize and design a model, (2) the main components of an ABM, (3) different statistical methods of analyzing the outputs, and (4) verification, validation, and replication of an ABM. Then, we perform an overall analysis of the utilities of ABM in different subsystems of the livestock systems ranging from epidemiological prediction to nutritional management to livestock market dynamics. Finally, we discuss the concept of hybrid intelligent models (i.e., merging real-time data streams with intelligent ABM), which have applications in artificial intelligence-based decision-making for precision livestock farming. ABM captures individual agents' characteristics, interactions, and the emergent properties that arise from these interactions; thus, animal scientists can benefit from ABM in multiple ways, including understanding system-level outcomes, analyzing agent behaviors, exploring different scenarios, and evaluating policy interventions. Several platforms for building ABM exist (e.g., NetLogo, Repast J, and AnyLogic), but they have unique features making one more suitable for solving specific problems. The strengths of ABM can be combined with other modeling approaches, including artificial intelligence, allowing researchers to advance our understanding further and contribute to sustainable livestock management practices. There are many ways to develop and apply mathematical models in livestock production that might assist with sustainable development. However, users must be experienced when choosing the appropriate modeling technique and computer platform (i.e., modeling development tool) that will facilitate the adoption of mathematical models by certifying that the model is field-ready and versatile enough for untrained users.

Eco-Innovation Diversity in a Circular Economy: Towards Circular Innovation Studies

Transition to a Circular Economy (CE) is about structural change and is predicated on the introduction of transformative eco-innovation (EI). Research on the CE–EI nexus has recently attracted attention both from an analytical and regulatory perspective. However, in-depth research exploring EI dynamics within the CE is still marginal, especially concerning the trends and dynamics of the pro-CE innovation policy and strategy. This paper addresses this gap by taking advantage of the burgeoning research on CE of the last 20 years and offers a new working synthesis. By implementing a “(systematic) review of (systematic) reviews”, this paper provides a new comprehensive framework for understanding pro-circular innovation strategies and, as a complement, argues the need to advance “circular innovation studies” as an agenda in its own right. Innovations related to recycling and recovery CE strategies along with business-model innovations and systemic/transformative innovations are found to be a major current trend in the research, connecting supply and demand side innovations and also driving other forms of innovation linked to design, product manufacturing, logistics and reverse logistics and end-of-life management and recovery. Additionally, of note is that the conceptual understanding of EI dynamics within a CE is still mainly implicit (rather than explicitly discussed) limiting the possibilities to advance knowledge in the area of innovation for CE: this is why we propose a “circular innovation studies” agenda.

Codesign of Food System and Circular Economy Approaches for the Development of Livestock Feeds from Insect Larvae

Processes that utilise low-value wastes and convert them to high-value food ingredients systemically add value across commercial operations. Current common disposal options include use as animal feed, anaerobic digestion, composting, incineration, and the worst-case options of landfill and wastewater disposal. The pressure is acute with food manufacturers needing to align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and reach targets of zero waste to landfill. This research identifies black soldier fly larvae as a bioreactor that converts most food waste into high-value feed materials. Production of larvae and the regulatory framework for their use as animal feed is being assessed in several nations. The requirement to understand the availability of feedstocks for larvae production and the capability to establish feedstock supply chains was tested in this study using geographical information system and life cycle assessment methodologies, providing new research insights for resource utilisation in a circular economy.

Sustainable Agri-Food Systems: Environment, Economy, Society, and Policy

Agri-food systems (AFS) have been central in the debate on sustainable development. Despite this growing interest in AFS, comprehensive analyses of the scholarly literature are hard to find. Therefore, the present systematic review delineated the contours of this growing research strand and analyzed how it relates to sustainability. A search performed on the Web of Science in January 2020 yielded 1389 documents, and 1289 were selected and underwent bibliometric and topical analyses. The topical analysis was informed by the SAFA (Sustainability Assessment of Food and Agriculture systems) approach of FAO and structured along four dimensions viz. environment, economy, society and culture, and policy and governance. The review shows an increasing interest in AFS with an exponential increase in publications number. However, the study field is north-biased and dominated by researchers and organizations from developed countries. Moreover, the analysis suggests that while environmental aspects are sufficiently addressed, social, economic, and political ones are generally overlooked. The paper ends by providing directions for future research and listing some topics to be integrated into a comprehensive, multidisciplinary agenda addressing the multifaceted (un)sustainability of AFS. It makes the case for adopting a holistic, 4-P (planet, people, profit, policy) approach in agri-food system studies.

A Review of Composting Process Models of Organic Solid Waste with a Focus on the Fates of C, N, P, and K

To foster a circular economy in line with compost quality assessment, a deep understanding of the fates of nutrients and carbon in the composting process is essential to achieve the co-benefits of value-added and environmentally friendly objectives. This paper is a review aiming to fill in the knowledge gap about the composting process. Firstly, a systematic screening search and a descriptive analysis were conducted on composting models involving the fates of Carbon (C), Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) over the past decade, followed by the development of a checklist to define the gap between the existing models and target models. A review of 22 models in total led to the results that the mainstream models involved the fates of C and N, while only a few models involved P and K as target variables. Most of the models described the laboratory-scale composting process. Mechanism-derived models were relatively complex; however, the application of the fractionation of substrates could contribute to reducing the complexity. Alternatively, data-driven models can help us obtain more accurate predictions and involve the fates of more nutrients, depending on the data volume. Finally, the perspective of developing composting models for the fates of C, N, P, and K was proposed.