Sustainable Development for Farmers Transforming Agroindustrial Wastes into Profitable Green Products

Abstract

The world population is facing significant changes in the supply of food, feed, fuel and fiber from agroindustrial byproducts. However, poverty, climatic and environmental effects, loss of productivity of major agroindustrial activities, low-use of byproducts, land-use change, biodiversity loss and high water consumption are among some of the factors that contribute to reducing the profitability of traditional agribusinesses. The development of sustainable low-cost technologies, which are simple for rural farmers to apply for byproduct valorization is, therefore, a key option to transform traditional agribusiness in sustainable value chain. This paper proposes, to develop in farms, three productive activities, to achieve the socioeconomic and environmental sustainability with byproducts, as raw material, from the sugarcane, coffee, banana, corn and citrus fruit agroindustries in Mexico, integrating innovative techniques reported in the literature, traditional knowledge, experience of farmers and analytical methods: (a) biodrying for removal of water in byproducts, causing a decrease in volume and an increase in calorific value, (b) production of compost, vermicompost and bocashi and (c) cultivation and harvest of edible mushrooms. These activities have had a positive impact on the sustainability and profitability of farmers in Mexico by reducing the amount of mineral fertilizers used in fields, obtaining rural fuel and generating income; additionally, food is generated for humans and livestock from the production of edible mushrooms.