Agricultural waste resource utilization, connecting the circular industry chain

In the grand map of agricultural production, Agricultural Waste was once a headache inducing "burden". These wastes from farmland, livestock farms, and agricultural product processing, such as straw, animal manure, and bacterial residue, if not disposed of properly, will not only pollute the environment but also cause huge waste of resources. However, with the continuous advancement of resource utilization technology and the deepening of the concept of circular economy, agricultural waste is gradually transforming into a valuable resource for promoting green agricultural development and supporting rural revitalization. A circular industry chain that runs through all aspects of agricultural production is gradually forming.

1、 Multiple pathways for the resource utilization of agricultural waste
There are various types of agricultural waste, each with its own unique resource utilization path, providing rich entry points for the construction of a circular industry chain.
Straw, as one of the largest waste products in agricultural production, has increasingly diversified ways of resource utilization. In Shangshui, Henan Province, the straw dual utilization base adopts the dry anaerobic fermentation process of corn straw to convert waste straw into bio natural gas, food grade liquid carbon dioxide, and bio Organic Fertilizer. Under full load production, 200000 tons of corn straw can be consumed annually, and nearly 18 million cubic meters of natural gas, 75000 tons of organic fertilizer, and more than 20000 tons of food grade carbon dioxide can be produced, achieving efficient recycling of resources. In addition, straw can also achieve value appreciation through fertilization, feed conversion, base material conversion, and raw material conversion. For example, crushing straw for farming can increase soil organic matter content and improve soil structure; After being processed by ensiling, micro storage and other technologies, it can become high-quality feed that is easy for livestock to digest; After being crushed and scientifically proportioned with other ingredients, it can also be used as a base material for cultivating edible fungi such as fungus and mushrooms.
The resource utilization of livestock and poultry manure has also achieved significant results. In Liaozhong District, Shenyang, Shanda Biomass Technology Co., Ltd. utilizes cow manure resources to produce natural gas, organic granular fertilizer, and biogas slurry fertilizer. Among them, bio natural gas has been widely used in metal smelting plants, food processing plants and other enterprises. Organic granular fertilizer and biogas slurry fertilizer provide high-quality organic fertilizers for local agricultural production, which not only solves the problem of livestock manure disposal, but also realizes the recycling of resources. In the unique "fruit insect fertilizer bacteria" ecological cycle model of Jiuhong Agricultural Industrial Park in Feixian County, Shandong Province, yellow mealworms and white star flower turtles convert agricultural waste into crop nutrients, and livestock manure is also treated to become organic fertilizer for orchards, forming a virtuous cycle of planting and breeding.
Fungi residue and other agricultural waste have also found new ways of resource utilization. Relying on the local edible mushroom industry, Zhoujiajian Town in Zizhou County has launched the mushroom residue resource utilization earthworm bio organic fertilizer project, which converts waste mushroom sticks into core raw materials for earthworm farming. After digestion and decomposition by earthworms, high-quality bio organic fertilizer is produced, providing high-quality fertilizer source support for local Chinese medicinal materials, forest fruits, high-quality miscellaneous grains and other characteristic planting, and building a green circular industry chain of "mushroom residue earthworms organic fertilizer characteristic planting".

2、 Key support for building a circular industry chain
The construction of a circular industry chain for the resource utilization of agricultural waste relies on the collaborative efforts of technological innovation, model exploration, and policy support.
Technological innovation is the core driving force for connecting the circular industry chain. In terms of pretreatment technology, various methods such as mechanical crushing, screening, drying, acid treatment, and alkali treatment can reduce the complexity of agricultural and forestry waste and improve its subsequent conversion efficiency. In terms of fermentation technology, the dry anaerobic fermentation process in Shangshui County and the high-temperature and high load anaerobic fermentation technology of mixed raw materials in Yicheng City's "Green Xin Model" have achieved efficient conversion of agricultural waste. In addition, technological innovation in agricultural waste treatment machinery has provided hardware support for resource utilization. New equipment such as straw crushing and returning machines, balers, and gasifiers have improved the efficiency and quality of straw treatment; Equipment such as animal manure composting machines and solid-liquid separators have achieved harmless treatment and resource utilization of animal manure.
Pattern innovation is an important way to promote the development of the circular industry chain. Various effective circular economy development models have been explored in various regions, such as the integrated planting and breeding model, the "waste treatment+carbon trading" model, and the "internal full consumption" model. The "planting breeding fertilizer returning" circular chain constructed in Zhenyuan County, Qingyang City, Gansu Province has achieved resource recycling within agriculture; The diversified utilization system established by the Lixian Town Processing Center in Daxing, Beijing has brought additional benefits to the project through a carbon trading mechanism; The "internal full consumption" model of Guangdong Fengkai has formed a closed loop of "planting breeding fertilizer returning", with strong market risk resistance ability.
Policy support is a solid backing for ensuring the stable operation of the circular industry chain. At the national level, the centralized treatment of agricultural waste has been included in the National Certified Voluntary Emission Reduction (CCER) mechanism, providing a policy basis for carbon trading in agricultural waste resource utilization projects. Local governments have also introduced relevant policies to support the construction and development of agricultural waste resource utilization projects. Shangshui County has ensured a stable supply of straw through a "four in one" raw material collection, storage, and transportation system consisting of government, enterprises, cooperatives, and machinery operators; Yicheng City has established a long-term mechanism for the collection and transportation of manure through government led and comprehensive management pilot projects.

3、 The profound significance of connecting the circular industry chain
The integration of the circular industry chain for the resource utilization of agricultural waste has significant economic, social, and ecological benefits, injecting strong impetus into sustainable agricultural development and rural revitalization.
In terms of economic benefits, the resource utilization of agricultural waste can bring considerable benefits to farmers and enterprises. The straw dual utilization project in Shangshui County benefits multiple parties such as truck drivers and straw brokers, with an average income increase of 30000 to 50000 yuan per person for the straw broker team; The closed straw feed conversion project has brought an additional income of 100-200 yuan per ton to farmers and created over 170 job opportunities. In addition, by producing products such as bio natural gas, organic fertilizers, and edible mushrooms, enterprises have also achieved profitability and promoted the development of rural economy.
In terms of social benefits, the construction of a circular industry chain has promoted rural employment and increased farmers' income, and improved the living environment in rural areas. A large amount of agricultural waste has been effectively treated, reducing phenomena such as straw burning and direct discharge of manure, reducing environmental pollution, and improving the ecological quality of rural areas. At the same time, the development of circular agriculture has also improved the quality and safety of agricultural products, meeting consumers' demand for green and organic agricultural products.
In terms of ecological benefits, the resource utilization of agricultural waste reduces resource waste, achieves resource recycling, and reduces the pressure of agricultural production on the environment. Measures such as returning straw to the field and using organic fertilizers have increased soil organic matter content, improved soil structure, and enhanced soil fertility; The alternative use of biogas reduces the consumption of fossil fuels, lowers greenhouse gas emissions, and is conducive to promoting green and low-carbon development in agriculture.
The resource utilization of agricultural waste and the establishment of a circular industry chain are inevitable choices for achieving sustainable agricultural development. With the joint promotion of technological innovation, model exploration, and policy support, we have reason to believe that in the future, agricultural waste will be more fully and efficiently utilized, and the circular industry chain will continue to improve and extend, providing strong support for the implementation of agricultural and rural modernization and rural revitalization strategies.