European research into the circular economy in agriculture has found its place on a prestigious technology sector platform. At the IEEE European Technology & Engineering Management Summit 2025, Erina Guraziu from OpenCom presented the findings of the ACE-EX research project (Erasmus+ programme) to representatives from 26 countries worldwide.
The presentation, entitled “Modern Project Management Approaches for Implementing Circular Economy Practices”, illustrated how to effectively manage transition projects towards the circular economy in the agricultural sector. The research, conducted within the Erasmus+ ACE-EX programme, involved seven European countries: Czech Republic, Greece, Spain, Italy, Norway, Poland and Ukraine.
“Our study has identified a three-competency framework essential for project managers who must lead the transition towards the circular economy in agriculture,” explains Guraziu. “Time, cost and quality criteria are no longer sufficient to manage high-quality projects aimed at sustainable impact.”
The research team employed a mixed ethnographic approach, which directly engaged with the business world. Eighteen best practices were analysed across the wine, oil and cereals sectors, whilst 36 focus groups gathered direct experiences from company executives. The quantitative survey was conducted through targeted questionnaires, reaching 146 industry professionals.
The results speak volumes: 65% of executives surveyed consider teamwork relevant for implementing the circular economy, whilst 84% of respondents identify the development of new business models as a crucial element for a successful transition.
The research has identified three fundamental pillars that future project managers must master. The first concerns stakeholder management and local community engagement, a competency that proves essential for creating those “long-term trust relationships” necessary to guide joint actions towards sustainability objectives.
The second pillar is what’s termed “temporal ambidexterity” – the ability to balance short-term objectives with long-term sustainability visions. A concrete example emerging from the focus groups concerns the need to coordinate immediate operational requirements, such as energy self-sufficiency through biogas plants, with broader sustainability objectives.
The third element concerns transformational leadership, which encompasses collaborative competencies, open management styles, and the ability to guide profound cultural changes within organisations.
One of the most concerning aspects emerging from the research regards the inadequacy of current training provision. Only 26% of the analysed courses address the implementation of new business models, focusing primarily on traditional managerial, technical, and organisational competencies. Even more critical is the data on cross-cutting competencies: just 4% of training programs cover aspects such as interdisciplinary research, data management, and systems thinking – only 3% address complex organizational themes, including ecosystem understanding, cultural change, and collaborative innovation.
“We discovered that there are no specific courses on innovation management, despite it being crucial for transitions towards the circular economy,” the researcher emphasises.
The ACE-EX research doesn’t stop at analysing existing gaps, but aims to bridge these shortcomings through the development of a new professional profile: the “Agricultural Circular Economy Expert”. This role should integrate technical competencies, emotional intelligence and strategic vision in ways that traditional project management training currently cannot provide.
“We’re witnessing what experts call a ‘new school of thought’ in project management,” concludes Guraziu, “where sustainability is no longer an add-on, but a fundamental paradigm shift in how projects are conceived and managed.”
The presentation at the IEEE summit, which this year had the theme “Towards Smart Regions: Projects, Technologies and Logistics for the Future”, represents significant recognition for European research. The IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) is one of the world’s most authoritative professional organisations in the technology sector.
The ACE-EX project, funded by the Erasmus+ programme, continues its journey to train a new generation of professionals capable of leading the sustainable transformation of European agricultural systems, combining technological innovation with advanced managerial competencies.
For more information about the project: www.ace-ex.eu