Economics of Circular Agriculture: Principles, Barriers, and EU Perspectives

This article explores the theoretical foundations and systemic implications of circular agriculture as a transformative model for sustainable agri-food systems.Building on the principles of the circular economy, circular agriculture emphasizes closed-loop nutrient cycles, waste valorization, and ecological regeneration.The paper contributes to the evolving literature by synthesizing conceptual definitions, identifying key barriers to adoption, and examining enabling policy frameworks with a particular focus on the European Union.It proposes a conceptual model that integrates production-level practices, circular value chains, and institutional mechanisms such as the EU Green Deal, Farm to Fork Strategy, and Common Agricultural Policy.A comparative analysis of related approaches -including agroecology, regenerative agriculture, and the bioeconomy highlights the distinct economic framing of circular agriculture.The research was concluded by suggesting additional works in economic modelling, behavioral incentives, and the creation of circularity indicators, which are a form of sustainability metrics.The goal of the results is to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and durable reconceptualization of agriculture policy frameworks.