One litre of olive oil. How much water did it require? How much energy? How many emissions did it generate from field to shelf? And after consumption, what happens to the bottle, the residues, the by-products? 🫒

These are the questions that Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) addresses: a standardised methodology (ISO 14040/44) that measures the environmental impact of a product, process or service across its entire life cycle. From raw material extraction through to final disposal — or, within a circular framework, re-entry into the production cycle. 🔄

The LCA course developed within ACE-EX covers 30 hours of training and addresses five dimensions: an introduction to the methodology, the phases of analysis, environmental LCA, social LCA and economic LCA.

Each lesson concludes with an assessment questionnaire. The practical element? A full case study on the life cycle assessment of wine production. 🍷

This is not an academic exercise. LCA is the tool through which agricultural businesses can identify where their impacts are concentrated, where to intervene to reduce them and how to communicate their environmental commitment credibly. 📋

Developed by AINIA (Spain), the module is available on the project platform.

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Circular economy is often discussed in environmental terms. Less frequently do we look at the economic figures, which tell an equally compelling story. 📊

According to European Commission estimates, the circular economy could generate up to 700,000 new jobs across the EU by 2030. In the agri-food sector, circular models could cut costs linked to waste management and healthcare by up to €550 billion, whilst reducing CO₂ emissions by 48% over the same period. 💶

These are not merely aggregate figures. For a small winery, turning grape residues into organic fertiliser means spending less on chemical inputs. For an olive oil mill, converting pomace into biomass means generating energy and reducing dependence on external suppliers.
For a cereal farm, composting harvest waste improves soil productivity and cuts fertilisation costs. 🚜

The circular economy also creates local employment: from compost management to reverse logistics, from sustainable product design to life cycle analysis. New skills for new markets.

The module on the economic impact of the circular economy, within the ACE-EX training programme, explores each of these areas with data and concrete case studies. 📈

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🇪🇺 Co-funded by the European Union

The circular economy is not solely about reducing waste. One of its three founding principles is the regeneration of nature: ensuring that production processes work with ecosystems rather than against them. 🌿

In agriculture, this principle has a specific name: regenerative agriculture. Crop rotation, managed grazing, permanent cover cropping, composting organic residues — practices that restore soil fertility, increase biodiversity and improve carbon storage capacity. 🌾

The contrast with conventional approaches is stark. Intensive use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides has well-documented effects on water quality and biodiversity. Circular models propose practical alternatives: biofertilisers, biological pest control, agroforestry systems.

Not theoretical solutions, but practices already in use across several European regions. 💧

In cereal and olive oil production, for instance, composting organic residues and sowing cover crops maintain soil fertility and reduce erosion. In viticulture, returning pruning residues to the soil closes a cycle that would otherwise remain open.

The module covering these topics is part of the ACE-EX Circular Economy Principles course. 📖

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🇪🇺 Co-funded by the European Union

There is a diagram that manages to capture the entire logic of the circular economy in a single image. It is called the “butterfly diagram” and it was developed by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Two wings, two cycles. 🦋

The left wing is the biological cycle: it concerns materials of organic origin that, after use, can return to nature. Composting, anaerobic digestion, biochemical extraction — processes through which agricultural residues return nutrients to the soil or are transformed into energy and high-value products. 🌱

The right wing is the technical cycle: it concerns materials and products that can be maintained, repaired, reused, refurbished or recycled. Farm machinery, irrigation systems, containers — everything that can have a second, third or fourth life. ⚙️

The key rule? Tighter loops are always preferable. Repairing is better than recycling. Reusing is better than repairing. Maintaining is better than reusing. Each additional step consumes energy and resources.

For those working in the wine, olive oil and cereal supply chains, the biological cycle is particularly relevant: by-products from harvesting, pressing and milling are raw materials for compost, biogas, biofertilisers and nutraceutical products. ♻️

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🇪🇺 Co-funded by the European Union