Potential for Farmers’ Cooperatives to Convert Coffee Husks into Biochar and Promote the Bioeconomy in the North Ecuadorian Amazon
Improving the livelihoods of communities living in fragile ecosystems, such as tropical forests, is among the main strategies to promote their conservation and preserve wildlife. In the Ecuadorian Amazon, farmers’ cooperatives are recognized as an important mechanism to improve the socioeconomic con...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-05-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/11/4747 |
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| author | Mario A. Heredia Salgado Ina Säumel Andrea Cianferoni Luís A. C. Tarelho |
| author_facet | Mario A. Heredia Salgado Ina Säumel Andrea Cianferoni Luís A. C. Tarelho |
| author_sort | Mario A. Heredia Salgado |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Improving the livelihoods of communities living in fragile ecosystems, such as tropical forests, is among the main strategies to promote their conservation and preserve wildlife. In the Ecuadorian Amazon, farmers’ cooperatives are recognized as an important mechanism to improve the socioeconomic conditions of local communities. This study analyzes the integration of pyrolysis processes to convert agricultural waste into biochar as a way to implement the bioeconomy in these organizations. We found that post-harvesting processes in the studied farmers’ cooperatives are similar, and coffee husks are a potential feedstock to produce biochar. Although the environmental policies in Ecuador consider the valorization of agricultural waste, we did not find any specific standard to regulate the operation of pyrolysis facilities. Nonetheless, conversion of agricultural waste into biochar can contribute to (i) replacement of subsidized fossil fuels used in drying processes, (ii) prevention of environmental pollution caused by accumulation of waste, (iii) emergence of new income sources linked with the provision of carbon sequestration services, and (iv) the long-term maintenance of soil fertility. Currently, demonstration projects are needed to stimulate collaboration among farmers’ cooperatives, academia, the government, international cooperation agencies, and existing forest conservation initiatives. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:09:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0bc07f74732f49a693bff1bfd9840cc3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:09:55Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-0bc07f74732f49a693bff1bfd9840cc32023-11-21T20:50:37ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172021-05-011111474710.3390/app11114747Potential for Farmers’ Cooperatives to Convert Coffee Husks into Biochar and Promote the Bioeconomy in the North Ecuadorian AmazonMario A. Heredia Salgado0Ina Säumel1Andrea Cianferoni2Luís A. C. Tarelho3Integrative Research Institute for Transformation of Human-Environment Systems (IRITHEsys), Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Unter den Linden 6, 10099 Berlin, GermanyIntegrative Research Institute for Transformation of Human-Environment Systems (IRITHEsys), Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Unter den Linden 6, 10099 Berlin, GermanyEuropean Committee for Training and Agriculture (CEFA), Eloy Alfaro y Amazonas, 170518 Quito, EcuadorDepartment of Environment and Planning, Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, PortugalImproving the livelihoods of communities living in fragile ecosystems, such as tropical forests, is among the main strategies to promote their conservation and preserve wildlife. In the Ecuadorian Amazon, farmers’ cooperatives are recognized as an important mechanism to improve the socioeconomic conditions of local communities. This study analyzes the integration of pyrolysis processes to convert agricultural waste into biochar as a way to implement the bioeconomy in these organizations. We found that post-harvesting processes in the studied farmers’ cooperatives are similar, and coffee husks are a potential feedstock to produce biochar. Although the environmental policies in Ecuador consider the valorization of agricultural waste, we did not find any specific standard to regulate the operation of pyrolysis facilities. Nonetheless, conversion of agricultural waste into biochar can contribute to (i) replacement of subsidized fossil fuels used in drying processes, (ii) prevention of environmental pollution caused by accumulation of waste, (iii) emergence of new income sources linked with the provision of carbon sequestration services, and (iv) the long-term maintenance of soil fertility. Currently, demonstration projects are needed to stimulate collaboration among farmers’ cooperatives, academia, the government, international cooperation agencies, and existing forest conservation initiatives.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/11/4747agricultural wastebiocharpyrolysis kilnsfarmers’ cooperativesAmazon forestscoffee husks |
| spellingShingle | Mario A. Heredia Salgado Ina Säumel Andrea Cianferoni Luís A. C. Tarelho Potential for Farmers’ Cooperatives to Convert Coffee Husks into Biochar and Promote the Bioeconomy in the North Ecuadorian Amazon Applied Sciences agricultural waste biochar pyrolysis kilns farmers’ cooperatives Amazon forests coffee husks |
| title | Potential for Farmers’ Cooperatives to Convert Coffee Husks into Biochar and Promote the Bioeconomy in the North Ecuadorian Amazon |
| title_full | Potential for Farmers’ Cooperatives to Convert Coffee Husks into Biochar and Promote the Bioeconomy in the North Ecuadorian Amazon |
| title_fullStr | Potential for Farmers’ Cooperatives to Convert Coffee Husks into Biochar and Promote the Bioeconomy in the North Ecuadorian Amazon |
| title_full_unstemmed | Potential for Farmers’ Cooperatives to Convert Coffee Husks into Biochar and Promote the Bioeconomy in the North Ecuadorian Amazon |
| title_short | Potential for Farmers’ Cooperatives to Convert Coffee Husks into Biochar and Promote the Bioeconomy in the North Ecuadorian Amazon |
| title_sort | potential for farmers cooperatives to convert coffee husks into biochar and promote the bioeconomy in the north ecuadorian amazon |
| topic | agricultural waste biochar pyrolysis kilns farmers’ cooperatives Amazon forests coffee husks |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/11/4747 |
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