The circular economy is becoming an increasingly discussed concept being an alternative to the current model of economy based on the unsustainable constant growth building on the unlimited use of resources. The objective of the study will be to outline the circular economy concept with the presentation of attempts to operationalise it from the point of view of the sustainability of agriculture and the whole food sector. We verified a research thesis that the circular economy is one of several concepts enriching and probably likely to replace the EU agricultural and food sector sustainability in the future. An eclectic approach has been applied, using the method of literature studies, documentation method and elements of heuristic methods. The paper is a review study. Formally, the CE is to constitute a superstructure for the CAP and sustainability practised within it, more and more schematic and fossilised. The basis for enhancing the sustainability, improving the efficiency and competitiveness of the EU agriculture and the whole food should be, in the first place, broadly understood innovation and creativity.