Opportunities and Considerations for the Development of the Circular Economy in the Mexican Countryside

Abstract

Because of its "extract-make-pull" configuration, the current production system is called a linear economy and encompasses all stages of production. Similarly, agriculture focuses on the exploitation of resources, with the consequent generation of negative impacts on the environment. An alternative to the current linear model is the so-called circular economy, where the circularity of processes is sought. The application of the circular economy in agriculture is seen as an alternative to develop a sustainable approach to agriculture. However, to validate this assumption, an analysis of the implications of its appropriateness within the agricultural system is necessary. This research aims to discuss the opportunities and considerations of applying the circular economy in the Mexican countryside based on the critique of development theory. Thus, an analysis of the discourse of the concepts that emanate from sustainability is carried out, therefore, one of the main conclusions is the negative impacts of agriculture on the environment and the application of the circular economy model to recirculate resources such as nutrients, water, and materials is explored. Finally, some case studies that have applied the circular economy in the region of Libres, Puebla are shared​.