Reduction of GHG emissions and energy needs as a consequence of the reduced need for production.

There are several co-benefits of creating circularity in urban food systems: As the circular systems create new opportunities for innovation, they can help to boost local business (km 0), as well as a proximity economy.

Thereby, they also lead to increased skill development and improved access to job opportunities.

Circular food systems also lead to better waste management by helping to reduce food waste.

Specific practices such as regenerative agriculture also have a positive impact on land-use, biodiversity and human wellbeing: They can lead to improvement in soil health and improved land use management, species increase, pollinator increase, increased ecological connectivity, and a reduced ecological footprint. They can also promote healthier and more attractive lifestyles and lead to raised awareness/behavioural change.

Connection to technical solutions:

• Encompassing the full value chain of producing food for human consumption - valorisation of low value fish species

Connection to Instruments:

• Urban metabolism mapping-  identifying product streams and material inputs (in addition to waste)
• Capacity building for city officials to undestand urban metabolisms and circular solution opportunities

Policy and regulatory/legal framework:

A strong political and policy environment that supports the development of circular food systems and provides the necessary framework for their implementation. This might include regulations, incentives, and other policies that encourage the reduction of food waste, the use of sustainable farming practices, and the development of circular supply chains.

 Economic:

Financial support to cover the financial losses that may arise during the transition period from highly efficient but harmful food production systems to sustainable but often labour-intensive systems.

Funding:

To support the development of new circular business models and fill in early-stage funding gaps.

Infrastructure:

Circular food systems require the reconfiguration of certain infrastructures to be able to produce, distribute and recover food waste.

Consumer demand:

Consumers and citizens are increasingly demanding environmentally conscious food products and more transparent supply chains

Engagement and participation of industry/businesses:

Barriers to participation could be businesses’ lack of awareness of certifications and standards; lack of skills and of knowledge about circular food systems, lack of market availability and lack of affordability due to premium prices for alternative food/agricultural products.

Economic and social barriers:

Hesitant company culture which are currently operating in a linear system. The transition to CE requires remarkable cultural changes in company structure as well as taking on financial risks of changing to a circular method. At the same time there is a lack of know-how on how to implement a circular food system.

Economic and social barriers:

A change to a circular food system may entail higher food prices that will go against the decade-long decrease in food prices/share of disposable income spent on food and therefore may suffer some strong social backlash. 

Infrastructure:

Cities are built to dispose of their waste in a linear way. Circular food system must retain food waste to extract more value and resources out of it. This requires spaces and the right technical skills.

Economic viability:

The profitability of new circular models, especially in the early days of the changing the food system from a linear to a circular one may be low. Food prices could see some inflation to compensate loss in efficiency.

 
Drastic cultural/societal change:

The reconfiguration of some supply chains will lead to a change in livelihood for primary producers (e.g. less meat/animal husbandry) and may lead to turmoil e.g. the farmers protests in the Netherlands.

• https://www.metabolic.nl/news/how-to-create-a-sustainable-bioeconomy/
• FUSILLI project (under construction a knowledge community to exchange actions in cities to improve food system): https://fusilli-project.eu/

(The amount of) food produced and subsequently used within the city boundaries;

(The amount of) local businesses producing for citizens within the city boundaries

• Training
• Regulations for durability, reparability and recycling in public procurement
• Material passports
• Certification and labelling
• Awareness campaigns
• Voluntary measures with stakeholders
• Taxation
• Bans or restrictions on single use or non-recyclable materials
• Green Public Procurement

• Milan Pilot Reflow Project: https://reflowproject.eu/blog/new-concept-food-market-boost-the-circular-transition/
• Circular food systems: They are encouraging the shift from linear to circular, sustainable food systems, in which resources are reused, nutrients recycled, by-products reduced and what remains is reutilized.
• Food Future: Pilot of a circular food system in Guelph-Wellington which aims to address food insecurity issues by creating Canada’s first circular food economy, reimagining how we produce, distribute, sell and consume food.