Circular Economy Pathways for Water-Smart Agri-Food Systems under Global Change

Agri-food systems face escalating pressures from global change, including climate variability, water scarcity, water quality degradation, resource constraints, market volatility, and socio-economic shifts in rural areas. These pressures expose the limits of linear production models and increase the need for water-smart, resource-efficient, and resilient pathways that reduce losses and protect aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. The circular economy offers a practical framework to advance water-smart food production by closing loops of water, nutrients, biomass, and energy across farm and food value chains. Circular strategies—such as safe water reuse, nutrient recovery, organic residue recycling, and side-stream valorization—can reduce freshwater withdrawals, limit diffuse pollution (e.g., nutrient runoff), improve soil water retention, and lower the water and carbon footprints of food production. When implemented with robust environmental and health safeguards, circular pathways can support food security and rural livelihoods while contributing to SDGs 2 (Zero Hunger), 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and 15 (Life on Land). This Research Topic aims to advance scientific understanding of circular economy pathways that enable water-smart agri-food systems under global change. It provides a multidisciplinary platform for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to examine how circular interventions can improve water productivity, strengthen drought and climate resilience, and enhance the environmental performance of agri-food systems across scales—from farm-level water management to value-chain organization and territorial governance. We welcome theoretical and applied contributions that generate empirical evidence, methodological advances, and policy-relevant insights on circularity for water-smart production. Submissions may address farm and landscape practices, processing and supply-chain innovations, regional and basin-scale approaches, and governance frameworks that enable (or constrain) circular transitions. Interdisciplinary studies that jointly assess water outcomes alongside economic feasibility and social implications are strongly encouraged. Methodological approaches may include (but are not limited to) water footprint assessment, life cycle assessment (LCA) (including water-related impact categories), material flow analysis (MFA) for water–nutrient–energy linkages, eco-efficiency and sustainability performance assessment, systems modeling and scenario analysis, techno-economic assessment, mixed-methods research, and comparative case studies. Reviews, perspectives, and policy-oriented papers that critically examine trade-offs, risks, standards, and monitoring indicators for circular water-smart strategies are also welcome. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to: Circular economy strategies for water-smart food production and the water–energy–food–nutrient nexus Water use efficiency and water productivity improvements enabled by circular practices Safe water reuse in agriculture and food processing (including risk management, standards, and monitoring) Nutrient recovery and recycling to reduce water pollution (e.g., nitrogen and phosphorus losses, eutrophication risk) Circular soil and organic matter management (e.g., compost, digestate, biochar) for soil water retention and resilience Valorization of agro-food side-streams to reduce water and wastewater burdens across value chains Water quality impacts and safeguards in circular systems (contaminants, salinity, pathogens, micro-pollutants) Basin/territorial governance and policy instruments supporting circular, water-smart transitions under global change Integrated assessment of environmental, economic, and social performance of circular water-smart interventions By bringing together contributions from different disciplines and regions, this Research Topic seeks to foster integrative knowledge on circular economy pathways that support water-smart, resilient, and sustainable agri-food systems in a rapidly changing global environment. Topic editors: Dragana Novaković, Mirela Tomaš Simin Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/77985/circular-economy-pathways-for-water-smart-agri-food-systems-under-global-change