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A Methodological Approach to Designing Circular Economy Indicators for Agriculture: An Application to the Egg Sector

Author

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  • Roger Rukundo

    (Department of Agricultural Economics and Consumer Science, Laval University, 2425, Rue de l’Agriculture, QC G1V 0A6, Canada)

  • Stéphane Bergeron

    (Department of Agricultural Economics and Consumer Science, Laval University, 2425, Rue de l’Agriculture, QC G1V 0A6, Canada)

  • Ibrahima Bocoum

    (Department of Agricultural Economics and Consumer Science, Laval University, 2425, Rue de l’Agriculture, QC G1V 0A6, Canada)

  • Nathan Pelletier

    (Department of Biology, Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science, University of British Columbia Okanagan, 340-3247 University Way, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada)

  • Maurice Doyon

    (Department of Agricultural Economics and Consumer Science, Laval University, 2425, Rue de l’Agriculture, QC G1V 0A6, Canada)

Abstract

Analysing production systems from a circular economy (CE) perspective helps to pinpoint interventions to mitigate the environmental footprint by improving resource use efficiency, waste recovery, and prolonged product usage, recycling and reuse. Few studies exist on the measurement of CE at the micro-level. Additionally, available metrics/indicators address only certain aspects of the CE’s socio-economic metabolism, ignoring important components of the CE concept. Other frameworks propose a single indicator that aggregates and summarizes several facets of CE. This study develops a holistic approach for designing indicators with a structured methodology and an analytical framework to assess CE at the micro (unit of production) level in agriculture. The proposed approach is based on the ECOGRAI method for indicator development, and on validation of the methods with experts and final users via an application to egg production in Canada. Twenty-five performance indicators (PI) were generated for 11 decision variables that were selected as important for the sector. This resulted in a practical tool that proposes fourteen actions to improve the economic circularity (EC) of egg farms. Our methodological approach could be replicated to assess CE performance in other agricultural sectors.

Suggested Citation

  • Roger Rukundo & Stéphane Bergeron & Ibrahima Bocoum & Nathan Pelletier & Maurice Doyon, 2021. "A Methodological Approach to Designing Circular Economy Indicators for Agriculture: An Application to the Egg Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-19, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:15:p:8656-:d:607543
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Nathan Pelletier & Maurice Doyon & Bruce Muirhead & Tina Widowski & Jodey Nurse-Gupta & Michelle Hunniford, 2018. "Sustainability in the Canadian Egg Industry—Learning from the Past, Navigating the Present, Planning for the Future," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-24, September.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Jabir Ali & Tabassum Ali, 2024. "Circular economy and agriculture: mapping scientific productivity, research pattern and future research direction," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(12), pages 30063-30108, December.
    2. Hoogstra, A.G. & Silvius, J. & de Olde, E.M. & Candel, J.J.L. & Termeer, C.J.A.M. & van Ittersum, M.K. & de Boer, I.J.M., 2024. "The transformative potential of circular agriculture initiatives in the North of the Netherlands," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 214(C).
    3. Giscard Valonne Mouafo Nebot & Haiyan Wang, 2022. "RETRACTED: Port Terminal Performance Evaluation and Modeling," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 6(1), pages 1-22, January.
    4. Simone Wurster & Luana Ladu, 2022. "Triple-C: A Tridimensional Sustainability-Oriented Indicator for Assessing Product Circularity in Public Procurement," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-23, October.
    5. Giuseppe Craparo & Elisa Isabel Cano Montero & Jesús Fernando Santos Peñalver, 2024. "Trends in the circular economy applied to the agricultural sector in the framework of the SDGs," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(10), pages 26699-26729, October.
    6. Patrizia Ghisellini & Amos Ncube & Gloria Rotolo & Chiara Vassillo & Serena Kaiser & Renato Passaro & Sergio Ulgiati, 2023. "Evaluating Environmental and Energy Performance Indicators of Food Systems, within Circular Economy and “Farm to Fork” Frameworks," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-38, February.

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