The Hidden Harvest: An Efficiency Indicator for Agricultural Residues Production

This study assesses the efficiency of agricultural residue production across regions within the framework of a circular economy. The objective is to identify the key factors driving performance and to provide insights for optimising resource use in line with the European Green Deal and the Common Agricultural Policy (2023-2030). We have integrated Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) with Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA-DEA), developing a composite efficiency indicator that enables the design of targeted policies based on the main determinants of regional performance. This indicator was applied to the Poland’s NUTS-2 regions and incorporates variables such as irrigation, agricultural land, employment, machinery, and crop type, allowing for a more refined evaluation of efficiency. Our approach offers a robust tool to support evidence-based policymaking. The findings underscore Poland’s potential to capitalise on significant agricultural residue surpluses for bioenergy and bio-based products, and advocate for tailored policy interventions, integrated evaluation methodologies, and enhanced support to address economic, environmental, and logistical challenges – thereby fostering a resilient circular economy.

Roberta Sisto, Naomi di Santo, Vincenzo D'Atteo, Edgardo Sica, The Hidden Harvest: An Efficiency Indicator for Agricultural Residues Production in "Economia agro-alimentare" Online First/2025, pp 1-27, DOI: 10.3280/ecag2025oa20414