From waste to wealth? The promise and challenges of the circular bioeconomy in Asian agri-food systems
Sources of informationJanuary 30, 2026 | Asia Pathways - Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI) |
This new analysis examines how the circular bioeconomy can transform agricultural waste into valuable products across Asian agri-food systems. The study identifies significant potential, noting that converting agro-food waste to animal feed and bio-based materials has reduced GHG emissions by 30% in India, while Thailand's climate-smart irrigation systems improved water-energy-food efficiency by 20%. However, adoption remains critically low, with less than 10% of biomass converted in both India and Indonesia. The authors highlight that weak technology access, fragmented policies across agriculture and energy sectors, and limited inter-firm collaboration in ASEAN countries constrain progress. They recommend strengthening incentive-driven models, investing in decentralized technologies, and establishing multi-stakeholder governance platforms to align policy objectives.
Viewed Articles
January 30, 2026 | Asia Pathways - Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI) |Â This new analysis examines how the circular bioeconomy can transform agricultural waste into valuable products across Asian
Read More
January 7, 2026 | The Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centres (CGIAR) |Â IRRI) has introduced an innovative all-in-one machine in Vietnam that integrates mechanized dry direct seeding
May 21, 2026 | Central News Agency (CNA) (In Chinese) |Â Taiwan's domestically grown soybean acreage expanded from approximately 680 hectares in 2014 to 4,473 hectares in 2024, a more than 5.5-fold
Black soldier flies may be small, but they could play a surprisingly big role in more sustainable farming. By breaking down organic waste, Â they can turn by-products into nutrient-rich fertilizer that
May 18, 2026 | Food Ingredients First | Ahead of the Sustainable Foods Summit in Amsterdam, Netherlands (June 18–19), a Ecovia Intelligence representative told Food Ingredients First that regenerativ
October 14, 2025 | Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) |Â The UN has announced 4 new World Restoration Flagships, covering 18 countries and restoring over 500,000 hectares across forests, rangeland
