The generation of agro-food residues and by-products constitutes a significant global problem, as its management has huge impact on the environment, economy, and society. According to the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), food and crop waste contribute to economic losses of around $936 billion and account for 8% of all global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (FAO, 2020) on a global scale. In Europe, approximately 90 million tons of food and 700 million tons of crops are wasted each year.

Annabel Serpico, Mar Tronch, Pilar Albadalejo, Miriam Gallur y Rosa Doménech – ITENE

 

Moreover, agricultural residues have a high organic content with consequent high valorisation potential but are either dumped in landfills (resulting in greenhouse gas emissions and unwanted anaerobic fermentations, leading to the risk of explosions and fires) or valorised in low-value applications, such as compost production or for animal feed.

Given the high volume of generated waste, the linear economic model of resource production and management poses a risk to the environment. There is a need to develop resource management and valorisation measures, shifting from the concept of a linear economy (extract, produce, waste) to the more sustainable concept of circular economy (reduce, reuse, recycle).

 

The Circular Economy aims to...READIGN MORE AT https://www.infopack.es/revista/308/index56.html