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Cultivating a Greener Tomorrow: Sustainable Agriculture Strategies for Minimizing Agricultural Waste

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Valorization of Biomass Wastes for Environmental Sustainability

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Abstract

Agriculture that is truly sustainable must incorporate social, economic, and environmental sustainability. Increased awareness of the need for enhanced agricultural productivity stems from the requirement to feed a growing population. It is interesting that virtually all agricultural activities generate waste, and many nations produce substantial volumes of waste. Recent observations from our study reveal that globally, agricultural activities generate approximately five billion tons of waste each year. However, the improper disposal of these wastes can lead to staggering financial losses, estimated at around $300 billion annually, and severe environmental contamination, posing significant threats to human health. Every state and nation, on average, produces a substantial amount of waste every year, estimated at 200 million tons, or every 6 months. Hence, it is imperative that this waste is disposed of properly, recycled, or utilized to create value for the environment and agriculture. We find that “reducing,” “reusing,” and “recycling” field waste can significantly reduce the environmental footprint of agricultural practices, potentially reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 25% and conserving water resources by 15%. This chapter focuses on effective strategies for managing these wastes, including building a more sustainable agricultural supply chain, developing long-lasting markets, and enhancing rural infrastructures such as roads, storage, and power.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Science & Humanities, Darbhanga College of Engineering, Darbhanga, Bihar, India

    Dipti Bharti & Rahul Singh

  2. Department of Chemistry, Noida International University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Abhilekha Sharma

  3. Department of Chemistry, IEC University, Baddi, Himachal Pradesh, India

    Meenakshi Sharma

  4. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar, Punjab, India

    Amit Kumar

  5. Department of Biotechnology, Invertis University, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Richa Saxena

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  1. Dipti Bharti
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  2. Abhilekha Sharma
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  3. Meenakshi Sharma
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  4. Rahul Singh
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  5. Amit Kumar
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  6. Richa Saxena
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Chitkara University School of Engineering and Technology, Chitkara University, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India

    Arun Lal Srivastav

  2. School of Life Sciences, Amity University Madhya Pradesh, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India

    Abhishek Kumar Bhardwaj

  3. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Mukesh Kumar

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Bharti, D., Sharma, A., Sharma, M., Singh, R., Kumar, A., Saxena, R. (2024). Cultivating a Greener Tomorrow: Sustainable Agriculture Strategies for Minimizing Agricultural Waste. In: Srivastav, A.L., Bhardwaj, A.K., Kumar, M. (eds) Valorization of Biomass Wastes for Environmental Sustainability. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-52485-1_18

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