With　the　global　population　projected　to　reach　9.7　billion　by　2050,　pressure　on　global　natural　resources　will　increase　by　50–90%,　exceeding　planetary　boundaries.　Industry　4.0　(I4.0)　technologies　are　widely　considered　feasible　for　resolving　the　conflict　between　population　growth　and　natural　resources.　However,　their　adoption　by　the　agri-food　industry　has　been　slower　than　in　manufacturing　and　automotives.　Their　fragmented,　non-comprehensive,　and　atheoretical　nature　of　scholarly　research　relating　to　I4.0　and　the　circular　economy　(CE)　impede　practitioners＇　deeper　understanding.　Grounded　in　grand　theory,　we　analyze　enablers　of　I4.0　deployment　to　achieve　CE　in　agri-food　supply　chains　(AFSCs).　We　thematically　analyze　data　collected　from　32　Chinese　AFSC　practitioners　through　semi-structured　interviews　to　identify　27　enablers.　We　then　implement　a　group-based　fuzzy　analytic　hierarchy　process　(GFAHP)　to　prioritize　these　enablers　based　on　the　opinions　of　10　decision　makers.　Our　results　differ　from　most　existing　studies.　First,　we　find　that　AFSCs＇　successful　deployment　of　I4.0-enabled　CE　depends　on　the　collective　efforts　of　environmental　factors,　supply　chains,　organizations,　and　individuals.　China＇s　hierarchical　cultural　value　orientation　is　the　＇lubricant＇　linking　these　factors　to　achieve　synergies.　Second,　our　prioritization　results　show　that　success　depends　heavily　on　environmental　factors　and　organizations,　and　relatively　little　on　supply　chains　and　individuals.　Enablers　such　as　willingness　to　learn　new　knowledge,　knowledge　of　I4.0　and　CE,　rural　revitalization　policy,　new　infrastructure　construction　policy,　and　enhanced　digital　skills　are　prioritized　amongst　the　27　identified　enablers.　This　study　has　limitations,　such　as　generalizability,　that　should　be　addressed　in　future　research.　©　2024　The　Author(s)