Capstone: Economics and Policies for Circular Economy

Dr. Justus Wesseler serves as Professor and Head of the Agricultural Economics and Rural Policy Group at Wageningen University & Research, where he has established himself as a prominent researcher in agricultural and environmental economics. After completing his PhD in Agricultural Sciences with a specialization in Agricultural, Environmental and Natural Resource Economics from the University of Göttingen, he has built an impressive career spanning multiple institutions including Technical University Munich. His research focuses on biotechnology economics, value chains, and regulatory economics, particularly examining how these contribute to sustainability and environmental protection. As a highly cited researcher with over 6,200 citations, his work has significantly influenced understanding of bioeconomy development, agricultural policy, and environmental economics. His recent influential publications include analyses of the EU's farm-to-fork strategy and development of circular bioeconomy indicators. Through his leadership roles, including heading major EU research projects like PRICE and coordinating international academic exchanges, he continues to shape agricultural and environmental policy while examining the economic implications of new technologies and regulations. His expertise particularly shines in cost-benefit analysis under uncertainty and irreversibility, demonstrated through his work on biotechnology assessment and environmental policy analysis. Having lived and worked across multiple continents, he brings a global perspective to agricultural economics while maintaining active research collaborations worldwide.

Dr. Dušan Drabik serves as Associate Professor in the Agricultural Economics and Rural Policy Group at Wageningen University & Research, where he specializes in agricultural policy analysis and biofuel economics. After completing his studies in agricultural economics, he has established himself as a highly cited researcher with over 1,300 citations, focusing on the intersection of agricultural, environmental, and energy economics. His influential work includes groundbreaking research on biofuel policies' impacts on food and energy markets, particularly examining how these policies affect price volatility in grain and oilseed markets. As a key researcher in projects like Drive-AB and various EU initiatives, he has contributed significantly to understanding agricultural policy frameworks, especially regarding climate change mitigation and market dynamics. His expertise spans multiple areas including bioeconomy development, agricultural policy analysis, and food waste economics, with particular emphasis on European agricultural markets and policy. Through his affiliation with LICOS at KU Leuven and his role at Wageningen, he continues to advance understanding of agricultural economics while focusing on Central and Eastern European economic development. His recent work examines circular bioeconomy indicators, land market regulations, and the integration of agriculture into climate policy frameworks, demonstrating his commitment to addressing contemporary challenges in agricultural and environmental policy.

Dr. Hans van Meijl serves as Chief Economist at Wageningen Economic Research (WEcR) and Special Professor of Macroeconomic Assessment of the Circular and Bioeconomy at Wageningen University & Research. After completing his PhD in International Economics from Maastricht University, he has established himself as a highly cited researcher with over 15,000 citations. His research addresses a critical 21st-century challenge: how to feed a growing world population sustainably while strengthening resilience to climate change and ensuring planetary security. As coordinator of major EU projects including SUPREMA and MINDSTEP, he leads research on agricultural modeling strategies and bioeconomy monitoring. His work spans multiple areas including agricultural policy reforms, trade liberalization, climate change adaptation, and technology assessment at both macro and micro levels. Through his leadership of the MAGNET CGE modeling consortium and involvement in various international research networks, he continues to influence global understanding of food security and bioeconomy development. His recent work examines the impacts of global crises on food security, demonstrating how higher food prices particularly affect low-income populations and import-dependent countries. As Senior Research Fellow at the Mansholt Graduate School and member of multiple international research consortia, he bridges academic research with practical policy applications while advancing understanding of sustainable food systems and circular economy transitions.