Economía circular en el sector agrícola en Latinoamérica. Revisión sistemática

Juan Manuel    Quintero-Ramírez; José Miguel    Omaña-Silvestre

doi:10.47606/ACVEN/PH0445

Authors

Juan Manuel Quintero-Ramírez Secretaría de Ciencias, Humanidades, Tecnología e Innovación. Colegio de Postgraduados- México https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1040-2690
José Miguel Omaña-Silvestre Colegio de Postgraduados- México https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5356-549X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47606/ACVEN/PH0445

Keywords:

Circular economy, Latin American agriculture, agri-food systems, agricultural waste valorization, territorial sustainability

Abstract

Interest in the circular economy within Latin American agriculture has grown as a response to environmental, social, and economic challenges associated with linear production models. This study examines recent scientific literature published between 2023 and 2025 that addresses the application of circular economy principles in the agricultural sector of Latin America, focusing on adopted approaches, implemented practices, reported impacts, and contextual factors influencing their uptake. A systematic literature review was conducted following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, drawing on regional and international databases and applying predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. A total of 50 relevant studies were identified, from which 15 representative empirical investigations were selected for in-depth analysis. The findings indicate that circular economy initiatives have been implemented mainly through the valorization of agricultural residues and by-products, the use of biomass for energy purposes, and improvements in waste management, particularly in more organized agro-industrial chains. Environmental impacts are the most consistently reported, whereas economic and social outcomes vary depending on sectoral and territorial conditions. Overall, the evidence suggests that the circular economy in Latin American agriculture is currently at an operational stage, characterized by gradual progress, and that further consolidation will depend on institutional strengthening, value chain integration, and the development of evaluation frameworks tailored to regional contexts.

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