For every kilogram of “usable” crop produced in agriculture, between 1 and 2.5 kilograms of residue is also produced. Of course, some of this residue must remain in the field or be used elsewhere on the farm in order to maintain a healthy ecosystem, but that which isn’t used thus is an unavoidable waste.
Minimising waste is one of the central tenets of sustainability: the waste hierarchy dictates that if waste cannot be prevented, then the next best option is to in some way reuse or recycle said waste. Unavoidable food supply chain wastes (UFSCW), including crop residues, by-products of
