Circular Economy agriculture and supply chain: a literature review

This study analyzes scientific production on the circular economy (CE) in the agri-food supply chain (AFSC), visualizing its future perspectives. A search was conducted in the Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus databases following the PRISMA methodology, resulting in 182 documents after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. Scientific mapping was performed through citation analysis and annual production by journals and authors, also applying Tree of Science (ToS) methodology to study temporal contributions and cluster analysis in subareas. The results show a notable increase in scientific production, highlighting Italy, India, and China as the most productive countries, with the journals Journal of Cleaner Production and Sustainability leading in publications. Two relevant studies were identified: one introduces a new indicator to measure resource efficiency in the supply chain (SC), while the other proposes a model that integrates blockchain technology. Both studies are recognized for their high citation counts and impact in the field. There is also a call for more precise assessment tools, the exploration of innovative technologies, and the promotion of collaboration between academia and industry. Finally, we highlight the importance of investigating specific SCs, such as olive oil and meat, to generate effective strategies for the CE, underlining that this study provides a robust methodology for future analyses and public policy decisions.