Agricultural Waste: Challenges and Solutions, a Review

Maximilian Lackner () and Maghsoud Besharati
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Maximilian Lackner: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien, Hoechstaedtplatz 6, 1200 Vienna, Austria
Maghsoud Besharati: Department of Animal Science, Ahar Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tabriz, Tabriz 51666, Iran

Waste, 2025, vol. 3, issue 2, 1-32

Abstract: Agricultural waste poses significant environmental, economic, and social challenges globally, with estimates indicating that 10–50% of agricultural products are discarded annually as waste. This review explores strategies for managing agricultural waste to mitigate its adverse impacts and promote sustainable development. Agricultural residues, such as those from sugarcane, rice, and wheat, contribute to pollution when improperly disposed of through burning or burying, contaminating soil, water, and air. However, these residues also represent untapped resources for bioenergy production, composting, mulching, and the creation of value-added products like biochar, bioplastics, single-cell protein and biobased building blocks. The paper highlights various solutions, including integrating agricultural waste into livestock feed formulations to reduce competition for human food crops, producing biofuels like ethanol and biodiesel from lignocellulosic materials, and adopting circular economy practices to upcycle waste into high-value products. Technologies such as anaerobic digestion for biogas production and gasification for synthesis gas offer renewable energy alternatives and ample feedstocks for gas fermentation while addressing waste management issues. Composting and vermicomposting enhance soil fertility, while mulching improves moisture retention and reduces erosion. Moreover, the review emphasizes the importance of policy frameworks, public-private partnerships, and farmer education in promoting effective waste management practices. By implementing these strategies, agricultural waste can be transformed into a resource, contributing to food security, environmental conservation, and economic growth.

Keywords: circular bioeconomy; waste reduction; biowaste; feed and food competition; agriwaste; agrowaste; agri-waste; agro-waste (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q16 Q18 Q2 Q20 Q23 Q24 Q25 Q28 Q3 Q31 Q38 Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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