Business Models Adaptation
About the course
Target group
Students
Key words
Course introduction
The course “Circular economy business models in agricultural and agrifood sectors” explores innovative practices to transform agriculture through circular economy principles. Given resource scarcity and environmental concerns, shifting from linear to circular systems is essential for sustainability, efficiency, and resilience against climate change and population growth.
Circular economy principles focus on minimizing waste, improving resource efficiency, and creating sustainable cycles where outputs from one process become inputs for another. In agriculture, this means redesigning processes to eliminate waste and integrate economic viability with environmental stewardship.
The course highlights key sectors like olive oil production, viticulture, and cereal farming, emphasizing their role in rural economies and ecosystem health. It also examines collaboration across supply chains, policy frameworks, and incentives—such as subsidies and tax breaks—that support circular practices and drive systemic change.
Course structure: the course covers eight key modules:
- Introduction: context of agricultural business models in the circular economy
- Diagnosis of current agricultural business models
- Strategies for transitioning to circular models
- Tools for implementing circular models
- Design and management of new agricultural business models
- Innovation in agricultural resource management
- Policies, regulations, and opportunities for circular business models in agriculture
- Conclusions and recommendations
Details to know
Downloadable certificate
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Assessment
8 Quizzes
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes for this course on Circular Economy in Agricultural Business Models are designed to ensure that participants can understand, analyze, and apply circular economy principles in agriculture, particularly in sectors such as wine, olive oil, and cereals. Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- Explain the principles of the circular economy and their specific application to agriculture, distinguishing between linear and circular models in agri-business contexts .
- Identify and assess key inefficiencies in traditional agricultural models, including resource overuse and waste generation, and analyze the environmental and economic impacts of these inefficiencies .
- Analyze case studies of current agricultural business models in sectors like wine, olive oil, and rice, evaluating their circular economy adaptations and identifying potential improvements .
- Develop strategies for transitioning to circular models, including methods for waste valorisation, renewable energy integration, and resource regeneration in agri-businesses .
- Apply tools for circular model implementation, such as life cycle analysis, digital technology for resource efficiency, and strategies for building partnerships that enhance circular practices .
- Design sustainable and collaborative business models in agriculture that integrate circular economy principles and promote stakeholder cooperation across the value chain .
- Critique and discuss policy and regulatory frameworks that support or hinder the adoption of circular economy practices in agriculture, with a focus on EU regulations and international trends .
The course is aimed at university students, professionals in the agri-food sector, and those responsible for sustainable policies and practices. Through a combination of theoretical concepts and practical examples, participants will be able to apply circular economy models to improve sustainability and efficiency in their activities.
More detailed Learning Outcomes can be found in module introductions.
Business Models Adaptation
Lessons
Introduction 1. Introduction: Context of agricultural business models in the circular economy 2. Diagnosis of current agricultural business models 3. Strategies for transitioning to circular models 4. Tools for implementing circular models 5. Design and management of new agricultural business models 6. Innovation in agricultural resource management 7. Policies, regulations, and opportunities for circular business models in agriculture 8. Conclusions and recommendations References
Project nr. 101110547.
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or EACEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.