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Background The transition to a circular economy has a principal role in driving sustainability and resilience in food systems. However, the implementation of this approach is complex, and governments should be aware of the challenges of adoption. Objective The aim of the study was to identify knowledge gaps and limitations influencing farmers' decisions to implement circularity, emphasizing the importance of policies, education, economic factors, and technology throughout the food chain. This paper highlights the challenges faced by farmers in adopting circular practices in livestock farming. Methods Through the multi-actor approach, stakeholders have identified a set of policies, education, economic, and technological factors as critical barriers that impact farmers’ decisions and value chain actors to adopt circular practices in their business operations. In this work, the respective variable categories have been tested on a large farmer population through quantitative research instruments. Results The results have indicated a significant relationship between variables related to political and regulatory framework categories and farmers’ motivation to implement circular practices. The findings have revealed the critical role of relevant policies and regulations, lack of subsidies, and lack of awareness by public institutions in shaping farmers' willingness to adopt circular practices in livestock production. The economic implications associated with the cost of production, investments, and operational costs have been found to impact the feasibility of circular systems. Conclusion Providing support to mitigate economic barriers is fundamental in improving sustainability in agri-food systems through a circular economy approach. This comprehensive approach requires establishing dedicated legislation to promote circular practices, providing support for circular economy initiatives, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders along the value chain.
Marku et al. (Fri,) studied this question.