Does circular bioeconomy contain singular social science research questions, especially regarding agriculture – industry nexus?

Abstract

• Circular bioeconomy has singular research questions • Great value is assigned to organic matter, especially in the form of waste • Another framework is needed to answer organic waste valorization issues • Famers occupy a central role in organic waste valorization systems. • Decentralization policies and deconcentration of production systems are needed As the notion of circular bioeconomy emerges and the issue of organic waste recovery becomes more important, we show that circular bioeconomy is not a simple superposition of two pre-existing concepts (i.e. bioeconomy and circular economy). To do so, we have reviewed 65 scientific articles to extract the singularities of the treated theme, the valorization of organic waste. At the end of this work, we reveal that the circular bioeconomy carries within it a new specific set of questions such as: How can we create an accurate functional and in-time cascade of waste valorization happen? How to combine territorial and value chain approaches in order to analyze the organizational and technological challenges raised by the deployment of the cascading recovery of organic waste? Wouldn't the decentralization of public policies linked to the mobilization of biomass allow better management of organic waste closer to the constraints and opportunities of each territory? What does the emergence of the circular bioeconomy change in the organization of the agricultural sector, and under what conditions would this change be profitable?