Circular Economy for Food Systemic Design

Dear Colleagues,

The transition towards a circular economy in food systems is crucial for addressing sustainability challenges, reducing waste, and optimizing resource utilization. A systems-based approach to circular food design integrates network dynamics, complex adaptive systems, and decision-making frameworks to promote resilience and efficiency. By leveraging systematic thinking, digital innovations, and governance frameworks, circular food systems can enhance environmental, economic, and social sustainability while addressing interdependencies within food supply networks.

Recent advancements in digital transformation and emerging technologies have further accelerated the shift towards circularity in food systems. Blockchain technology, in particular, plays a vital role in improving traceability, transparency, and trust in circular food supply chains. Additionally, the adoption and diffusion of digital innovations within circular economy initiatives depend on technology acceptance factors, including consumer trust, stakeholder engagement, and regulatory frameworks. Understanding these socio-technical dynamics is essential for successfully implementing circular economy principles.

This Special Issue aims to explore interdisciplinary and systems-oriented approaches that support the development of circular food systems. We invite original research, review articles, case studies, and theoretical contributions that address the application of circular economy principles through systems dynamics, network theory, decision-making frameworks, socio-technical perspectives, and digital solutions. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Sustainable food supply chains and circular economy integration;
• Waste valorization and closed-loop food systems;
• Cost–benefit analysis of circular economy practices in agri-food systems;
• Economic policies for promoting circular economy in agricultural systems;
• The impact of circular economic innovations on economic growth;
• Technology acceptance in circular economic initiatives;
• Network theory and decision-making frameworks in circular food system transitions;
• Systems engineering approaches to food waste reduction and resource optimization;
• Digital innovations in circular agri-food systems, including AI, IoT, and blockchain;
• Blockchain applications for transparency and efficiency in circular food systems;
• Opportunities and barriers to implementing circular economy in agri-food systems.

We look forward to receiving your contributions to this Special Issue and advancing knowledge on circular economy applications in food system designs through a systems-based approach.

Dr. Sina Ahmadi Kaliji
Dr. Ashkan Pakseresht
Dr. Riza Radmehr
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. Systems 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 2400 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.

• circular economy systems
• complex adaptive food systems
• system dynamics in food systems
• network theory in food sustainability
• decision theory in the circular economy
• blockchain in food supply chains
• technology acceptance in circular systems
• systems engineering in food waste valorization
• digital transformation in sustainable food systems
• socio-technical transitions in agri-food