Global warming potential of the valorisation of agricultural biowaste in Bangladesh

Abstract

Agricultural biowaste is the leftovers from producing raw agricultural goods. The transformation of agricultural biowaste into energy has a significant potential to shift the need for fossil fuels, lower Greenhouse gas emission (GHG), and supply green energy to the world's expanding population. It also increases nutrient recovery and helps to remain carbon in the soil. When agricultural biowaste is dumped into the environment it has a negative impact on ecosystems because untreated garbage produces greenhouse gas emissions which leads to the discharge of extra, unwanted gaseous byproducts in addition to having harmful impacts on the climate. Main agricultural crops and their production area were taken from Bangladesh agriculture census data. Besides, livestock and poultry number also taken from this census. Total agricultural biowaste production was estimated 210 million tonnes (Mt) per year. This huge amount of biowaste can be valorised in a various way and can produced bioenergy which can minimize the use of fossil fuel in Bangladesh. Potential energy production from the 50% agricultural crop residue, fruits and vegetables wastes was 30 TWh (terawatt hour) per year. Manure production from livestock and poultry was 160 Mt which can produce 12 billion cubic meter (m3) biogas. This biogas can produce 13 (TWh/year) electricity. Produced bio electricity could reduce 1.5 million tonne CO2 equivalent GHG emissions in the environment. From the biodigester biofertilizer can be produced which will reduce the dependency on chemical fertilizer. However, this study did not consider LCA data for the GHG calculation. The findings of the study suggest the best possible options for the agricultural biowaste valorisation in Bangladesh considering the socio-economic condition of the country.