Introduction to Transformation of the Agricultural Economy Towards Sustainable and Circular Systems

This chapter provides the overview for the relevance of this book, showing the urgent need to transform food supply chains towards more sustainable and circular systems to combat climate change, geo-politically driven food poverty, particularly in Mediterranean region. It analyses and maps citrus by-products supply chains, showing the supply, value chain, and logistics network design in various countries, such as Egypt, Tunis, Turkey, Jordan, and Algeria. Based on this mapping, the weak points for sustainability are identified, while showing the alternative transformation pathways utilizing, e.g. technological advances and life cycle assessment methods towards innovative business models. Moreover, consumer perceptions for sustainable food intake as well as small-scale farming practices, including optimal use of irrigation and pesticides are strongly considered in designing the biological and technological circular supply chain systems. Political and managerial recommendations are derived from sustainability analysis of various future scenarios to design and implement transformation strategies optimally and efficiently.