Multi-Actor Governance for a Circular Economy in the Agri-Food Sector: Bio-Districts

Abstract

The transition of the European agri-food sector towards a sustainable production and consumption model is a key element of the Green Deal. The new European “Farm to Fork” strategy aims to make the food system fair, healthy, and environmentally friendly. The consolidation and development of the organic model are two of the main objectives. In Italy, this development can be achieved through the Bio-District model. This model, which was born in the last ten years in Italy, is characterized by innovative multi-actor governance. From an explorative perspective, this study analyses the background literature on Bio-Districts and the context of the development of the Etruscan Roman Bio-District to understand the potential and the factors that allow the application of the principles of the Circular Economy. It focuses on multiple comparative analyses by using a qualitative–quantitative approach. The analysis of the context highlights the potential for expansion linked to an integrated short supply chain through three scenarios.

Bio-districts and the territory: evidence from a regression approach

“…However, to date there are still few studies on the subject. The topics dealt with focus mainly on narration or the comparison of case studies (Belliggiano et al, 2019;Favilli et al, 2020;Pugliese et al, 2015;Stotten et al, 2017) on the definition and identification of tools to classify bio-districts and eco-regions (Franco and Pacino, 2015;Pugliese et al, 2016;Zanasi et al, 2020), on the construction of social networks that characterize the bio-districts (Dias et al, 2021), on the implementation of the bio-district tool using the agroecological (Dara Guccione and Sturla, 2021;Gargano et al, 2021;Guareschi et al, 2020) and the circular economy approach (Poponi et al, 2021).…”

“…Similarly, Guareschi et al (2020) investigate if bio-district can contribute to scale-up towards agroecological agriculture in the context of Parma bio-district, finding that it facilitates a relationship between organic and agroecological agriculture, diffusing organic agriculture although some weaknesses of bio-district tool remain, among which the difficulty of governing a territory and participatory processes with many stakeholders. Finally, contributions such as that of Poponi et al (2021), enrich the panorama of literature by analysing the existing contributions through the interpretative key of the circular economy by taking as a case study the Etruscan Roman Bio-District.…”

Digital Technologies for Urban Metabolism Efficiency: Lessons from Urban Agenda Partnership on Circular Economy

“…From a social point of view, the obstacles to urban circularity are mainly related to the highly departmentalized and nonintegrated bureaucratic governance structure, which prevents any digitalization strategy [193]. For example, in many cities around the world, the urban metabolism decision-making process still takes place in silos, where the policies of agriculture, water, waste, mobility, energy, health, telecommunications, education, etc., are considered separately by agencies, departments, divisions, cabinets, interdepartmental committees, municipal, regional, and state-owned utilities, and so on, neglecting a multidimensional and holistic perspective [194].…”

Identifying Future Study Designs for Mental Health and Social Wellbeing Associated with Diets of a Cohort Living in Eco-Regions: Findings from the INSUM Expert Workshop

“…Thus, food systems 2 of 20 affect human health, mentally, socially, and physically [2]. Eco-Regions (or Bio-Districts or Organic Districts) are community concepts addressing issues related to sustainable development, including the full life cycle of food products (i.e., local value chains) and utilising organic food and farming practices and principles [3,4]. For instance, the Cilento Eco-Region in Italy is built around three dimensions, the social, the environmental and the economic.…”

“…Eco-Regions conceptualise multi-actor governance with the overall aim to design a local sustainable food system that permits healthy and sustainable diets for all [3,7]. For citizens living in these regions, it may enhance their quality of life, also through positive changes in the natural and social environment, which eventually may influence both their somatic and mental health.…”