Managing Global Agricultural Waste

Urban migration coupled with rapid population growth have led to a global increase in demand for food. The growth of agriculture has naturally led to a corresponding growth in agricultural waste. This is particularly true in developing nations, where raw agricultural goods are typically transported to market, leading to a bulk of waste deposits building up at dumping grounds and in and around cities, homes, and slums. The management of agricultural waste is therefore a key issue around the globe.

Duncan Clark is Teysha Technologies’ Head of Business Operations. Teysha Technologies has developed a patented platform that can be used to generate usable biodegradable polymers which can be turned into multiple types of material, such as packaging and construction materials. This not only helps resolve the issue of agricultural waste; it can reduce the amount of non-biodegradable plastics being used and entering the world’s oceans.

Utilising Biomass Waste

A large percentage of the world’s agriculture takes place in southern Asiatic regions such as Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia are responsible for more than 90% of global palm oil production, causing more than 27 million tonnes of agricultural waste.

Also, in these regions, more than 34 million tonnes of bagasse and 38 million tonnes of rice husk are produced each year. Much of this waste product is either burned or left in fields to decompose, releasing harmful gases into the atmosphere. These same regions are also largely responsible for much of the plastic waste that enters the Earth’s oceans each year – as much as 60% of all global plastic waste comes from just five countries in Asia.

Implementing Teysha Technologies’ unique patented platform could provide a sustainable solution to both issues – reducing the amount of agricultural waste burned or left to decompose and providing an alternative to non-biodegradable plastics.

The Benefits of Utilising Agro-Industrial Waste

Agro-industrial waste can be left to rot or disposed of in ways that are ultimately harmful to humans and the wider environment. However, today there are several alterative solutions that reduce the level of waste by turning it into viable, usable products.

Residues from agricultural processes can be used to generate multiple useful products if the right technologies and techniques are implemented. These include creating biofuels, animal feed, antibiotics, vitamins, useful enzymes, and other chemicals. This helps to reduce the overall pollution load for the environment, minimise landfill and waste, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels for production in many other areas of business.

Biopolymers Vs. Petrochemicals

Large agricultural conglomerates could experience manifold benefits from embracing biopolymer technologies. They can reduce their dependence on fossil fuels as raw materials for petrochemical-based plastics, which contributes towards a more sustainable future.

Revenue streams can be increased through profiting from the vast streams of waste being produced. Plastic waste and other forms of pollution can also be drastically reduced.

The natural raw materials for biopolymers are starch and cellulose, which are abundant in agricultural waste from common crops such as corn, wheat, sugar bagasse, and tapioca. The polymers generated from these natural feedstocks not only reduce waste but can also biodegrade naturally at the end of their useful life.