#what are agricultural residues?

Agricultural residues, a term you hear more and more often, but what does it actually mean? 🌿

Agricultural residues are materials generated during agricultural production that are not part of the actual harvest. They can be both plant-based and animal-based by-products. At eco:fibr we focus exclusively on plant-based residues, meaning everything that is left on the field after harvest or generated during processing and has barely been used so far. This can include leaves, stems, husks, press residues or entire plant parts, depending on which crop is being grown.

The scale of this is enormous. Globally, several billion tonnes of agricultural residues are generated every year. In pineapple production alone, many millions of tonnes of plant residues are left on the fields after each harvest and have barely been put to further use so far.

The problem is that these residues often cannot simply be left where they are. They need to be removed from the fields to make way for the next crop. And that is exactly where the challenge lies. They are often burned or treated with chemical substances that are partially highly toxic and banned in many countries, yet still being used in others.

At the same time these residues hold a raw material potential that has barely been tapped. Plant-based fibres that could be suitable for industrial applications in the paper, packaging and fibre casting industry end up on the field or in the incinerator instead.

At eco:fibr we are looking closely at exactly this potential. Agricultural residues are not waste to us, but a starting material that has not yet received the attention it deserves. 🍍♻️

Feel free to follow us if you want to find out more about what we do!