Circular, Resilient, and Traceable: A Framework for the Future of Agri-Food Supply Chains

Food waste in agri-food supply chains (AFSCs) often stems from fragmented stakeholder collaboration and unclear roles in promoting food circularity. This study develops a novel framework categorizing stakeholders into three groups: upstream actors (e.g., farmers, processors), connectors (e.g., logistics providers), and downstream actors (e.g., retailers, consumers) to address the complex interplay of materials and actors in AFSCs. Unlike prior research focusing primarily on biodegradable materials, this study adopts a holistic approach to circularity by examining the entire material lifecycle. Drawing on the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's "butterfly diagram," this study integrates biological and technical cycles, emphasizing reuse, refurbishing, remanufacturing, and recycling of non-biodegradable materials alongside natural biodegradation processes. Not only does the framework connect material flows with stakeholder roles, but it also highlights how traceability enhances material tracking and waste reduction, while resilience ensures a sustainable and uninterrupted food supply. These insights offer actionable pathways for achieving circularity in AFSCs.