Valorisation of Natural Resources and the Need for Economic and Sustainability Assessment: The Case of Cocoa Pod Husk in Indonesia

Fiorella Picchioni, Geoffrey P. Warren, Smilja Lambert, Kelvin Balcombe, J. Steve Robinson, Chittur Srinivasan, Leonardo D. Gomez, Laura Faas, Nicholas J. Westwood, Afroditi Chatzifragkou, Dimitris Charalampopoulos and Liz J. Shaw
Additional contact information
Fiorella Picchioni: Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Chatham Maritime ME4 4TB, UK
Geoffrey P. Warren: Soil Research Centre, Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6AB, UK
Smilja Lambert: Mars Symbioscience Indonesia, JL Kima 10 Kav A7 Daya, Makassar, South Sulawesi 90241, Indonesia
J. Steve Robinson: Soil Research Centre, Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6AB, UK
Leonardo D. Gomez: Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
Laura Faas: Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
Nicholas J. Westwood: School of Chemistry and Biomedical Sciences Research Complex, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9ST, UK
Afroditi Chatzifragkou: Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6AB, UK
Dimitris Charalampopoulos: Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6AB, UK
Liz J. Shaw: Soil Research Centre, Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6AB, UK

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 21, 1-16

Abstract: The uptake of innovative technologies and practices in agriculture aimed at the valorisation of natural resources can be scant in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs). Integration of financial viability assessments with farmers and environmental evaluations can help to understand some aspects of the low uptakes of innovations. Using the case study of Cocoa Pod Husk (CPH) valorisation in Indonesia, we provide insights into (i) a choice modelling method to assess the economic viability of CPH valorisation and (ii) an agronomic trial assessing the consequences on soil quality of diverting CPH from its role as a natural fertilizer. The economic viability assessment suggested that farmers require higher levels of compensation than might be expected to collect or process CPH (a small proportion of farmers would undertake all processing activities for 117 GBP/t CPH). The agronomic trial concluded that CPH plays only a minor role in the maintenance of soil phosphorus, calcium and magnesium, but it plays an important role for crop potassium. CPH removal would reduce the partial balances for carbon and nitrogen by 15.6% and 19.6%, respectively. Diversion of CPH from current practices should consider the long-term effects on soil quality, especially because it might create increased reliance on mineral fertilizers.

Keywords: cocoa pod husk (CPH); valorisation; choice experiment; soil quality; soil carbon; soil nutrients (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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