This study aims at providing a systematic and critical review on the state of the art of life cycle applications from the circular economy point of view. In particular, the main objective is to understand how researchers adopt life cycle approaches for the measurement of the empirical circular pathways of agri-food systems along with the overall lifespan. To perform the literature review, the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol was considered to conduct a review by qualitative synthesis. Specifically, an evaluation matrix has been set up to gather and synthesize research evidence, by classifying papers according to several integrated criteria. The literature search was carried out employing scientific databases. The findings highlight that 52 case studies out of 84 (62% of the total) use stand-alone life cycle assessment (LCA) to evaluate the benefits/impacts of circular economy (CE) strategies. In contrast, only eight studies (9.5%) deal with the life cycle costing (LCC) approach combined with other analyses while no paper deals with the social life cycle assessment (S-LCA) methodology. Global warming potential, eutrophication (for marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems), human toxicity, and ecotoxicity results are the most common LCA indicators applied. Only a few articles deal with the CE assessment through specific indicators. We argue that experts in life cycle methodologies must strive to adopt some key elements to ensure that the results obtained fit perfectly with the measurements of circularity and that these can even be largely based on a common basis.

The agribusiness sector is constantly seeking solutions to enhance food security, sustainability, and resilience. Recent estimates indicate that one-third of the total food production remains unused due to waste or limited shelf life, resulting in negative environmental and ethical consequences. Consequently, exploring technological solutions to extend the shelf life of food products could be a crucial option to address this issue. However, the success of these technological solutions is closely linked to the perception of the end-consumers, particularly in the short term. Based on these considerations, this paper presents a systematic literature review of the main technological innovations in the fresh meat industry and of consumers’ perceptions of such innovations. Regarding innovative technologies, this review focused on active and smart packaging. Amidst various technological innovations, including the utilization of fundamental matrices and natural additives, a noticeable gap exists in consumer perception studies. This study represents the first comprehensive compilation of research on consumers’ perceptions and acceptance of innovations designed to extend the shelf life of fresh meat. Moreover, it sheds light on the existing barriers that hinder the complete embrace of these innovations.

Forest ecosystem services (ESs) are garnering increasing public attention as awareness grows regarding society's fundamental dependence on them for well‐being. Forest fires, one of the major disturbances of ESs, are becoming more frequent and destructive, exacerbated in part by climate change. Quantifying the value of ESs can foster responsible behavior and offer suggestions to public decision‐makers in planning activities and mitigating damaging events. The objective of this study is to provide a monetary valuation of the reduction in ESs' use value in a protected forest area in southern Italy. The study focused on the Aspromonte National Park (ANP) in Calabria, a region with typical Mediterranean characteristics, which experienced a significant fire in August 2021. By combining a geographic information system (GIS) and field surveys with tailored estimation methodologies rooted in the total economic value (TEV) approach, the study effectively addressed the distinctive variables of both ESs and the forest, enabling the economic quantification of the resulting loss. The analysis showed that the total damage amounted to roughly €26 million. The ESs with the highest incidence of economic damage were identified as hydrogeological protection, wood resources, and naturalistic function. Following this, a detailed valuation of the most representative forest categories was conducted, revealing that all systems, including the simplest ones, possess substantial value and fulfill specific ecological roles. Findings establish a promising framework for informing silvicultural strategies and represent a suggestion system to identify damage phenomena and safeguard the continued existence of forests and the ESs they provide.