Developing a Circular Agricultural Innovation Platform in Sri Lanka: Ensuring Fair Prices, Consumer Value, and Food Security

Sri Lanka’s agriculture operates within a fragmented value chain, leading to significant post-harvest losses (20–40%) and limited direct market access for farmers, while consumers face inflated prices and inconsistent food quality. This paper proposes a Circular Agricultural Innovation Platform (CAIP) that integrates digital connectivity, farmer-managed physical hubs, and circular economy principles to reduce waste, empower producers, and enhance food security and consumer value. Methodologically, the study employs structured secondary data analysis, system dynamics literature, and conceptual synthesis framed by Innovation Platform and Circular Economy theories. Key findings reveal that inefficient logistics, dominant intermediaries, and a lack of post-harvest infrastructure are primary drivers of losses and inequities in value distribution. The CAIP model addresses these challenges through an integrated digital-physical system that facilitates transparent pricing, efficient logistics, and by-product valorisation. The paper identifies strategic entry points in high-production districts such as Nuwara Eliya and Anuradhapura. Policy implications include the need for targeted investment in cold-chain and digital infrastructure, support for farmer cooperatives to manage local hubs, and enabling partnerships among agritech startups, NGOs, and local governments to scale circular agricultural practices. The CAIP model offers a transformative pathway to inclusive, resilient, and sustainable food systems in Sri Lanka.