Pathways to a Circular Economy in the Agriculture-Food System: Actor-Based Analysis of Digital Capacity, Institutional Alignment, and Collaboration Dynamics Using the EDDU-M Model

Kemalettin Ağizan; Süheyla Ağizan

doi:10.30858/zer/221025

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Pathways to a Circular Economy in the Agriculture-Food System: Actor-Based Analysis of Digital Capacity, Institutional Alignment, and Collaboration Dynamics Using the EDDU-M Model

Zagadnienia Ekonomiki Rolnej

Volume 387 (2026): Issue 2 (June 2026)

By: Kemalettin Ağizan and Süheyla Ağizan

Open Access

|Jun 2026

Abstract

Background

This study addresses the transition to a circular economy (CE) in agri-food supply chains, focusing on how digitalization, institutional capacity, and collaboration shape CE practices. It highlights a research gap in existing literature, which often lacks multi-actor, multi-country perspectives. The paper introduces the EDDU-M model to analyze these dynamics in Türkiye and Italy – two countries with different digital and institutional maturity levels.

Material and methods

A mixed-methods design was used, combining Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) for hypothesis testing with fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) and thematic analysis. Data were collected from 412 businesses across seven supply chain actors (e.g., producers, processors, exporters) through surveys and interviews. The study measured digitalization, CE practices, institutional capacity, and collaboration structures, with country context as a moderating variable.

Results

Digitalization significantly boosts CE performance in both countries, but its effect varies across actors. In Türkiye, logistics and exporters benefit most, while in Italy, the impact is more evenly distributed. Collaboration and institutional capacity also strongly influence CE outcomes. fsQCA revealed that different combinations of digital tools and collaborative dynamics can lead to high CE performance, depending on the national and actor context.

Conclusions

The EDDU-M model provides a comprehensive framework for understanding CE transitions in agri-food systems. It shows that digital tools alone are not sufficient – contextual factors like cooperation quality and institutional support are equally vital. These insights offer practical guidance for policymakers aiming to promote sustainable transformation across diverse agricultural ecosystems.

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Articles in this issue

DOI: https://doi.org/10.30858/zer/221025 | Journal eISSN: 2392-3458 | Journal ISSN: 0044-1600

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Language: English

Page range: 55 - 87

Submitted on: Sep 9, 2025

Accepted on: Apr 23, 2026

Published on: Jun 30, 2026

Published by: The Institute of Agricultural and Food Economics – National Research Institute

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

Publication frequency: 4 issues per year

Keywords:

circular economy,

digitalization,

agriculture-food supply chain,

multi-actor analysis,

EDDU-M model

Related subjects:

Business and economics,

Agribusiness, food industry

© 2026 Kemalettin Ağizan, Süheyla Ağizan, published by The Institute of Agricultural and Food Economics – National Research Institute
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Volume 387 (2026): Issue 2 (June 2026)