Agricultural residues are among the largest untapped resources in the global bioeconomy, with the potential to support climate neutrality and circular resource use. This paper examines circular society by valorizing agricultural residues into valuable products and their contribution to future sustainability through nutrient-cycling closed loops. Valorization routes such as bioplastics, biochar, biocomposites, green solvents, biofertilizers, nutraceuticals, and natural dyes also lead to waste-to-wealth conversion and thereby alleviate greenhouse gas emissions. These pathways contribute directly to net-zero goals, produce CO2 offsets, mobilize nutrients, and provide fossil-fuel alternatives. The paper highlights the benefits of social and economic development in remote rural areas, including improved soil fertility and more reliable energy. In the context of Industry 5.0 and conducive policy environments, agricultural residue valorization has the potential to be a foundational element of regenerative development. In the end, this strategy transforms agricultural waste from a liability into an environmental asset, offering opportunities as a key lever to drive sustainable production and decarbonization for an effective transition to a circular bioeconomy.
Link to the original full article: https://ap.fftc.org.tw/article/3920
ABSTRACT
Agricultural residues are among the largest untapped resources in the global bioeconomy, with the potential to support climate neutrality and circular resource use. This paper examines circular society by valorizing agricultural residues into valuable products and their contribution to future sustainability through nutrient-cycling closed loops. Valorization routes such as bioplastics, biochar, biocomposites, green solvents, biofertilizers, nutraceuticals, and natural dyes also lead to waste-to-wealth conversion and thereby alleviate greenhouse gas emissions. These pathways contribute directly to net-zero goals, produce CO2 offsets, mobilize nutrients, and provide fossil-fuel alternatives. The paper highlights the benefits of social and economic development in remote rural areas, including improved soil fertility and more reliable energy. In the context of Industry 5.0 and conducive policy environments, agricultural residue valorization has the potential to be a foundational element of regenerative development. In the end, this strategy transforms agricultural waste from a liability into an environmental asset, offering opportunities as a key lever to drive sustainable production and decarbonization for an effective transition to a circular bioeconomy.
Keywords: Carbon neutrality, Circular economy, Climate change, Organic waste, Resource recovery
摘要
農業廢棄物是全球生物經濟中尚未開發的最大資源之一，具有支持氣候中和與資源循環利用的潛力。本文探討如何透過將農業廢棄物轉化成為高價值的產品，並藉由養分循環的封閉式迴圈，促進循環社會的發展，進而為未來的永續發展做出貢獻。諸如生物塑料、生物炭、生物複合材料、綠色溶劑、生物肥料、營養保健品及天然染料等資源化路徑，亦能實現「廢棄物轉化為財富」的目標，進而減緩溫室氣體的排放。這些路徑不僅可直接貢獻於淨零目標的實現，還能產生二氧化碳的抵消額度、推動營養循環，並提供化石燃料的替代方案。本文特別強調偏遠農村地區在社會與經濟發展方面的益處，包括改善土壤肥力及獲得更可靠的能源。在工業 5.0 及有利的政策環境下，農業廢棄物的資源化有望成為再生發展的核心要素。最後，此資源化策略將把農業廢棄物從負債轉化成為環境資產，並作為關鍵槓桿，為推動永續生產與去碳化提供契機，從而有效過渡至循環生物經濟的迴圈之中。
要約
農業残渣は、世界のバイオエコノミーにおいて最大の未活用資源の一つであり、気候中立や資源の循環型利用を支える可能性を秘めている。本論文では、農業残渣を価値ある製品へと付加価値化することによる循環型社会の実現、および栄養循環の閉ループを通じた将来の持続可能性への貢献について考察する。バイオプラスチック、バイオ炭、バイオコンポジット、グリーン溶剤、バイオ肥料、機能性食品、天然染料といった付加価値化することで、廃棄物を富へと転換し、それによって温室効果ガスの排出を削減することにもつながる。これらの経路は、ネットゼロ目標に直接貢献し、CO2オフセットを生み出し、栄養分を活用し、化石燃料の代替手段を提供する。本論文は、土壌肥沃度の向上やより信頼性の高いエネルギー供給など、遠隔地の農村地域における社会・経済開発の恩恵に焦点を当てている。インダストリー5.0および支援的な政策環境のもとでは、農業残渣の価値化は、再生型開発の基盤となる要素となり得る。最終的に、この戦略は農業廃棄物を負債から環境資産へと転換し、循環型バイオエコノミーへの効果的な移行に向けた持続可能な生産と脱炭素化を推進する重要な手段としての機会を提供する。