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van der Velden R, da Fonseca-Zang W, Zang J, Clyde-Smith D, Leandro WM, Parikh P, Borrion A, Campos LC. Closed-loop organic waste management systems for family farmers in Brazil. ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY 2022; 43:2252-2269. [PMID: 33397218 DOI: 10.1080/09593330.2021.1871660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Family farmers in Brazil could diversify their sources of income and improve agriculture practices by adopting circular economy principles on their farms. Closed-loop technological systems can be used to manage organic waste and produce fertiliser and biogas thereby generating revenue. Anaerobic Digestion (AD) is a proven technology that can produce digestate (i.e. fertiliser) and biogas from organic waste, although digestate application in soil and crops without treatment can have adverse effects. However, in practice, there is a lack of knowledge about the benefits of recycling organic waste in farming communities in Brazil. Therefore, the main aim of this paper is to provide conceptual design configurations of closed-loop systems that manage organic waste and generate revenue for small farms in Brazil. A literature review of selected technologies and interviews with Brazilian family farmers were used to inform the components of the proposed conceptual designs. The proposed designs are based on circular economy principles, incorporating AD, pyrolysis for biochar, hydroponics and vermifiltration in various configurations. A complete closed-loop system consisting of a 7.5 m3 digester, pyrolysis unit, a combined hydroponic and vermifilter unit and a shredder is estimated to cost around USD$1600 (R$ 6600). The flexibility of the proposed systems has the potential to increase resilience and income for small-scale farmers, whilst encouraging good practices for waste management. The conceptual designs can be used as a basis for further research and development of small-scale organic waste management solutions in Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- René van der Velden
- Department of Civil, Environmental & Geomatic Engineering, University College London - UCL, London, UK
| | - Warde da Fonseca-Zang
- Department of Sustainable Process Technology, Federal Institute of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
- Apinaje Technological Vocational Centre, Federal University of Goiás - UFG, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Joachim Zang
- Department of Sustainable Process Technology, Federal Institute of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
- Apinaje Technological Vocational Centre, Federal University of Goiás - UFG, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Dominic Clyde-Smith
- Department of Civil, Environmental & Geomatic Engineering, University College London - UCL, London, UK
| | - Wilson M Leandro
- Agronomy Faculty, Federal University of Goiás - UFG, Goiânia, Brazil
- Apinaje Technological Vocational Centre, Federal University of Goiás - UFG, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Priti Parikh
- Engineering for International Development Research Centre, UCL, London, UK
| | - Aiduan Borrion
- Department of Civil, Environmental & Geomatic Engineering, University College London - UCL, London, UK
| | - Luiza C Campos
- Department of Civil, Environmental & Geomatic Engineering, University College London - UCL, London, UK
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Li J, Duan N, Guo S, Shao L, Lin C, Wang J, Hou J, Hou Y, Meng J, Han M. Renewable resource for agricultural ecosystem in China: Ecological benefit for biogas by-product for planting. ECOL INFORM 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoinf.2012.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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