LAUSR

Escalating global environmental crises has necessitated a shift towards circular economy (CE) models in the production and consumption systems. The food sector particularly needs transformation due to its significant ecological footprint. While prior studies have examined barriers to CE within food supply chains (FSCs), empirical strategy development—especially within the Indian context remains—a critical research gap. This research addresses this gap by identifying critical barriers and strategic preferences for CE adoption in India's FSCs. By employing an extended form of the Kruskal–Wallis method, the study assesses the criticality of barriers and prioritizes strategies accordingly. The findings underscore the need for multi‐stakeholder engagement and the application of Industry 4.0 technologies to enable economically and environmentally efficient CE practices in FSCs, which would define a framework for transition to sustainability in the context of an emerging economy.