Economics, sustainability, and circularity: relevance for alternative economic models

Despite significant agricultural production growth, India's agri-food systems face critical sustainability challenges requiring alternative economic models. The current welfare-focused approach shows significant limitations, with widespread child stunting and protein deficiency among farm households...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autor principal: Kumar, Shalander
Formato: Ponencia
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics 2025
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/177623
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author Kumar, Shalander
author_browse Kumar, Shalander
author_facet Kumar, Shalander
author_sort Kumar, Shalander
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Despite significant agricultural production growth, India's agri-food systems face critical sustainability challenges requiring alternative economic models. The current welfare-focused approach shows significant limitations, with widespread child stunting and protein deficiency among farm households despite operating the world's largest public distribution system. Agricultural household incomes remain inadequate for basic needs, while large parts of India face severe water stress and increasing climate risks threaten food security. This study examines the transition toward circular economy principles in agriculture as a pathway for sustainable development. Key challenges include resource degradation, high yield variability across districts, and the environmental burden of linear production systems. The circular economy approach integrates regenerative agriculture, organic recycling, bio-energy production, and monetization of ecosystem services. Evidence from implementations shows 20-30% reduction in post-harvest losses, 15-25% income increases, and improved resource efficiency. Critical pathways forward include developing regenerative agriculture suitability maps, strengthening local food systems, creating price incentives through green certification, and establishing measurement and verification systems for carbon trading.
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spelling CGSpace1776232025-11-07T02:01:30Z Economics, sustainability, and circularity: relevance for alternative economic models Kumar, Shalander circular economy ecosystem services food systems sustainability regenerative agriculture Despite significant agricultural production growth, India's agri-food systems face critical sustainability challenges requiring alternative economic models. The current welfare-focused approach shows significant limitations, with widespread child stunting and protein deficiency among farm households despite operating the world's largest public distribution system. Agricultural household incomes remain inadequate for basic needs, while large parts of India face severe water stress and increasing climate risks threaten food security. This study examines the transition toward circular economy principles in agriculture as a pathway for sustainable development. Key challenges include resource degradation, high yield variability across districts, and the environmental burden of linear production systems. The circular economy approach integrates regenerative agriculture, organic recycling, bio-energy production, and monetization of ecosystem services. Evidence from implementations shows 20-30% reduction in post-harvest losses, 15-25% income increases, and improved resource efficiency. Critical pathways forward include developing regenerative agriculture suitability maps, strengthening local food systems, creating price incentives through green certification, and establishing measurement and verification systems for carbon trading. 2025-03-11 2025-11-06T06:13:43Z 2025-11-06T06:13:43Z Presentation https://hdl.handle.net/10568/177623 en Open Access application/pdf International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics Kumar, S. 2025. Economics, Sustainability, and Circularity: Relevance for Alternative Economic Models. Presented at the Brainstorming Seminar on “Futuristic Economics: Promoting Sustainable Development and Welfare,” organized by Central Agricultural University and the Indian Society of Agricultural Economics (ISAE), Gangtok, Sikkim, 11–12 March 2025. Patancheru, India: ICRISAT.
spellingShingle circular economy
ecosystem services
food systems
sustainability
regenerative agriculture
Kumar, Shalander
Economics, sustainability, and circularity: relevance for alternative economic models
title Economics, sustainability, and circularity: relevance for alternative economic models
title_full Economics, sustainability, and circularity: relevance for alternative economic models
title_fullStr Economics, sustainability, and circularity: relevance for alternative economic models
title_full_unstemmed Economics, sustainability, and circularity: relevance for alternative economic models
title_short Economics, sustainability, and circularity: relevance for alternative economic models
title_sort economics sustainability and circularity relevance for alternative economic models
topic circular economy
ecosystem services
food systems
sustainability
regenerative agriculture
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/177623
work_keys_str_mv AT kumarshalander economicssustainabilityandcircularityrelevanceforalternativeeconomicmodels