Opportunities for Circular Bioeconomy Development in the Romanian Cereal Sector

Elena-Laura Conțescu¹, Steliana Rodino^2,3, Elena Partal¹, Florin Gabriel Anton¹

 ¹National Agricultural Research-Development Institute Fundulea
²Institute of Research for Agriculture Economy and Rural Development, Bucharest
³National Institute of Research and Development for Biological Sciences, Bucharest

Keywords: circular bioeconomy, cereal production, agricultural residues, resource efficiency.

Abstract: The circular economy offers a development model that seeks to optimize resource use by reducing waste, reusing materials, and valorizing by-products. In agriculture, the adoption of circular principles is becoming increasingly important in response to growing pressure on natural resources and the need to minimize environmental impacts. Romania’s cereal sector, a key component of national agricultural production, generates significant quantities of residues and secondary products that hold considerable potential for circular bioeconomy applications. Integrating these resources into sustainable value chains can enhance farm profitability, improve resource efficiency, and strengthen the resilience of agro-food systems.
Our study provides an analysis of circular economy principles and their applicability in agriculture, complemented by an overview of global practices and their current uptake in Romania. This framework supports the identification of opportunities to improve resource efficiency and circularity within agricultural systems. We examine the structure of cereal cultivation and map the waste streams and by-products generated from key crops such as wheat, barley, triticale, and maize. Regional data on secondary product availability illustrate the spatial distribution of resources and their potential for valorization. Several opportunities for waste reduction and the circular use of cereal residues were identified. Overall, the findings highlight concrete pathways for developing integrated circular value chains that support environmental objectives and strengthen economic resilience within Romanian agriculture.