Circular Agriculture: Waste-to-Resource Innovations in Cropping Systems
A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Soil and Plant Nutrition".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2026 | Viewed by 19
Special Issue Editors
Interests: circular agriculture; waste valorization; agroecological innovation; biochar application; biomass recycling
Interests: circular agriculture; waste valorization; waste-to-resource innovations in agriculture; sewage sludge; recycled fibre
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Conventional agriculture’s linear model exacerbates resource depletion and environmental degradation and circular agriculture—repurposing agro-waste into resources—offers a sustainable alternative to enhance cropping system resilience, productivity, and climate adaptation. This paradigm shift hinges on technological, ecological, and socio-economic innovations.
This Special Issue invites interdisciplinary research on waste valorization, from biochar production to microbial upcycling and closed-loop nutrient cycling. Submissions may explore topics including (but not limited to) the agroecological integration of waste streams, digital tools for optimizing resource loops, drivers of circular adoption, and policy frameworks enabling transitions toward responsible production. Field experiments, life cycle assessments, and multi-stakeholder case studies are encouraged.
We welcome original research, reviews, and perspectives that bridge scales from molecular innovations to systemic design. Contributions addressing technical barriers, scalability challenges, or synergies between circular practices and global sustainability goals—such as Zero Hunger (reducing food loss and enhancing soil health), Responsible Consumption and Production (minimizing waste and closing resource loops), and Climate Action (mitigating emissions through carbon-smart practices)—will advance actionable solutions for agriculture’s future.
Join us in redefining agriculture’s role through science and collaboration.
Dr. Xueming Lin
Dr. Yangmei Chen
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agronomy is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- circular agriculture
- waste valorization
- biochar application
- sustainable intensification
- life cycle assessment (LCA)
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