With the agricultural sector pledging to improve its sustainability, there is an urgent need to move away from linear food production models which rely on significant raw material inputs and generate large amounts of residual waste.Developing circular agricultural production systems reviews the emergence of circular agriculture as an approach to improving the sustainability of the agricultural sector. The book addresses recent advances in understanding and...

This book features five peer-reviewed reviews on developing a circular economy in agriculture.The first chapter discusses the relationship between a circular economy and bioeconomy as they relate to agriculture, as well as the key principles and challenges of circular, closed-loop agricultural systems.The second chapter introduces new approaches to food production and ‘waste’ management, including the opportunity to partially close nutrient cycles in urban agricultural sett...

This open access book, written by world experts in aquaponics and related technologies, provides the authoritative and comprehensive overview of the key aquaculture and hydroponic and other integrated systems, socio-economic and environmental aspects. Aquaponic systems, which combine aquaculture and vegetable food production offer alternative technology solutions for a world that is increasingly under stress through population growth, urbanisation, water shortages, land and soil degradatio...

This book provides a comprehensive overview of and state-of-art information on the production and application of second- and third-generation bioplastics, such as polylactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). The uses of alternative raw materials are presented, and innovations applied in bioplastics production processes to reduce costs and decrease environmental impacts in a circular bioeconomy are discussed.

Environmental Impact of Agro-Food Industry and Food Consumption covers trends associated with the impact of food production on the environment using lifecycle analysis and the standard methods used to estimate the food industry's environmental impact. The book discusses city-scale actions to estimate the environmental impact of food systems, including the meat chain, feeding crops to farmed fish, the confectionary industry, agriculture, tea processing, cheese production, the dairy industry...

Biomethane through resource circularity: Research, Technology and Practices is an invaluable resource for researchers, policy makers, implementers and PhD and Marsters level students in universities analyzing the present status, waste biomass including agro wastes, success in experimentation & commercial production, future needs and other relevant areas. While huge biomass is wasted by open burning, there is potential of energy generation that can be extracted from the biomass preventing G...

Sustainable Development and Pathways for Food Ecosystems: Integration and Synergies is a science-based reference which explores the roles played by agri-food ecosystems, their functions and needs, and the importance of the interdependencies among them. This book explores the relationships between food ecosystems, highlighting each entity's role in transforming, preserving, and conserving the others. It is a vital resource of information on the ecosystems that surround the food supply chain...

Biodegradable Waste Management in the Circular EconomyPresents the major developments in new technologies and strategies for more effective recovery of matter, resources, and energy from biodegradable wasteThe volume of biodegradable waste produced worldwide is progressively increasing—a trend that is predicted to continue well into the foreseeable future. Developing sustainable, cost-effective, and eco-friendly approaches for processing fo...

This book discusses the sustainable management and conversion of food waste into various resources through biological resource recovery techniques. An overview is given of the present challenges facing food waste management, why food waste reduction in general is a pressing issue, and the current treatment methods for food waste to minimize adverse environmental and human health impacts. The majority of the chapters then discuss sustainable methods for converting food waste into resources ...

Organic Farming: Global Perspectives and Methods, Second Edition provides the core definition and concepts of organic farming, also addressing current challenges and goals. The book provides a comprehensive resource, from sustainability to influences on the ecosystem, including the significance of seed, soil, water and weed management, and other important aspects. In addition, it presents advancements in the field and insights on the future. This fully revised and updated edition expands c...

This book presents a comprehensive exploration of advanced scientific techniques for reducing agricultural nutrient pollution in the context of climate change. It delves into the sources, pathways, and extent of nutrient release into the environment, offering stakeholders valuable insights into how scientific advancements can help reduce environmental footprints. The authors critically examine key knowledge gaps, policy interventions, and challenges related to nutrient management from agro...

This handbook covers both principal and applications aspects of hydroponics. This reference book shows the state-of-the-art in this area, while offering a clear view of supplying plants with nutrients other than soil. Chapters about hydroponics provides the reader with an understanding of the properties of the various soilless media and how these properties affect plant performance in relation to basic agricultural operations, such as fertilization and irrigation. Chapters explore the draw...