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The global pursuit of sustainable development has highlighted the Circular Bioeconomy (CBE) as a key framework for resilience and sustainability. CBE, which focuses on regenerating natural resources and minimizing waste, encompasses sectors like agriculture, waste management, and renewable energy. Agricultural Extension Services (AES) play a pivotal role within this paradigm, serving as conduits for disseminating knowledge, providing training, and fostering innovation in the agricultural sector. Indonesia, with its rich agricultural heritage and diverse natural resources, stands as a key player in the global agricultural landscape. However, the country faces challenges such as land degradation, deforestation, and climate change impacts, necessitating a shift toward sustainable agricultural practices. This article examines the potential of CBE in Indonesia, particularly the role of AES in its adoption. AES bridge the gap between research, policy, and implementation, equipping farmers with the necessary tools and information for transitioning to CBE models. Despite challenges such as limited awareness, technological barriers, and policy constraints, strategic interventions and collaborative efforts can pave the way for effective CBE implementation in Indonesia. Strengthening collaboration, enhancing capacity-building efforts, advocating for supportive policies, mobilizing financial resources, and fostering public awareness are key strategies in this endeavor. In conclusion, successful CBE adoption in Indonesia depends on the active involvement of AES. Through embracing CBE principles and leveraging AES capabilities, Indonesia can achieve a sustainable and prosperous future, fostering resilience, economic growth, and environmental integrity.

IntroductionAddressing the global demand for rice production necessitates innovative approaches to enhance upland rice yield in rainfed agroecosystems, considering the challenges posed by increasing population, limited land fertility, low productivity, and water availability.MethodsIn this study, our study investigated the impact of biochar and organic fertilizer on ten promising rice lines (G1 – G10) and two control (G11 – G12) cultivars under rainfed conditions. The experimental design used a split-plot design with four soil amendments as main plots, namely control, organic fertilizer, biochar, and biochar + organic fertilizer and 12 rice genotypes as subplot.ResultsThe absolute attainable yield gaps, differentiating organic and control (GAP1), biochar + organic and control (GAP2), and biochar and control (GAP3), ranged from 1.5 to 3.7 or increased of 91–580%, 0.8 to 3.5 (72–560%), and 0.6 to 2.58 tons/ha (58–472%), respectively. Notably, G2 + organic exhibited the highest positive absolute yield gap, ranging from 1.1 to 5.38 tons/ha, based on the yield gap matrix. Furthermore, genotype main effect plus genotype-environment interaction (GGE) biplot analysis identified G2 as the most promising rice line, displaying superior yield performance for cultivation in biochar and organic amended soils.DiscussionThese findings provide valuable insights for farmers, governments, and stakeholders, offering a roadmap to optimize rainfed areas for rice production, serving as practical guidance to enhance overall rice productivity in rainfed agroecosystems.

The increasing global population, rapid urbanization, and climate change are putting unprecedented pressure on limited water and energy resources for food production. It requires integrated management of the key resources to achieve economic and environmental sustainability. The water-energy-food (WEF) nexus, in conjunction with circular bioeconomy (CBE) principles, offer a promising approach to achieve sustainable agriculture. It provides the integration between interconnectedness and interdependencies of the resources through closing bio-resource loops. Using bio-based materials, renewable energy resources, and implementing energy-efficient practices and technologies can maximize synergistic among the resources and promote sustainable agriculture while minimizing negative environmental impacts. However, there are challenges and limitations, such as economic conditions, proper infrastructure and technology, policy and governance support, public awareness, and potential trade-offs and conflicts. Moreover, it also faces various social and cultural challenges in implementing this approach. Therefore, to overcome these challenges and limitations, the need for innovative and sustainable technologies, significant investments in research and development, infrastructure and training, environmental campaign, innovative financing mechanisms and policies that incentivize sustainable practices, and support from stakeholders and the public are essential.