Gestão sustentável dos resíduos da agroindústria (Manihot esculenta) no semiárido sergipano sob o aspecto da economia circular

Abstract

Agricultural production is one of the most important socioeconomic activities, as it is responsible for food production; however, it is also responsible for generating a huge amount of waste. The estimated amount of global agricultural production is 7.26 Gt, and the volume of dry biomass reaches approximately 140 Gt. This quantity of green material represents a significant impact on the environment. Furthermore, the lack of valorization and inadequate disposal of agricultural waste in nature are associated with the linear production model, which prioritizes only consumption and disposal, causing environmental impacts. This model directly opposes the Circular Economy (CE), which, in turn, represents a significant advance in the incorporation of sustainability by organizations, cities, and governments, fundamentally characterized by the recycling, reuse, and repurposing of waste generated throughout the product's life cycle, and not just in the production process. In this context, a research project proposed the development of a circular model for utilizing cassava harvesting and processing waste, transforming the resulting biomass into second-generation biofuels. To achieve this objective, it initially relied on a preliminary survey establishing cassava as a family-based crop among the two crops produced in the Sergipe Semi-Arid region. Following this, an analysis of technical, economic, and energy solutions for the conversion of plant biomass was conducted. To demonstrate the impacts of linear and circular models, the Systems Dynamics methodology was proposed. This approach allowed the construction of scenarios simulating both models. Finally, the study culminated in the creation of the Semiárido Forte platform, which shares information on the components of the biomass produced, the potential for second-generation biofuels, the CO2 sequestered in the harvesting and processing, the contrasting social and environmental impacts between the linear and circular models, as well as the economic values with and without biomass recycling. The achievement of the proposed objectives was supported by the application of interdisciplinary technologies, which optimized the collection and processing of easy-to-use information. The results demonstrated the importance and benefits that can be achieved with the incorporation of a circular production model for cassava biomass waste, used as an instrument for sustainable practices. The analysis demonstrated positive potential with the introduction of the Production Unit, with environmental, energy, and economic gains. Simulations showed positive and negative results over ten years for biomass in both linear and circular models. Therefore, this research serves as an important instrument for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2 and 12, providing sustainable agriculture, production, and consumption, necessary to improve soil quality, minimize the effect of water stress on crops, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and enable agricultural and pastoral activities, strongly contributing to the retention of small family farmers in the region, and most importantly, promoting a sustainable consumption economy for agricultural/agroindustrial waste.