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Potential Applications of Food-Waste-Based Anaerobic Digestate for Sustainable Crop Production Practice

Author

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  • Jonathan Ries

    (College of Integrative Sciences and Arts, Arizona State University, Mesa, AZ 85212, USA)

  • Zhihao Chen

    (College of Integrative Sciences and Arts, Arizona State University, Mesa, AZ 85212, USA)

  • Yujin Park

    (College of Integrative Sciences and Arts, Arizona State University, Mesa, AZ 85212, USA)

Abstract

The global food system is and will be facing many challenges in the coming decades, which will necessitate innovative solutions to address the issues of a diminishing fertilizer supply, an increasing food demand from growing populations, and frequent extreme climates due to greenhouse gas emissions. An advancement proposed is the synthesizing of fertilizer from food waste, here referred to as food waste anaerobic digestate (FWAD). This occurs through the process of anaerobic digestion, where organic matter such as food waste is contained in an anaerobic environment and allowed to be broken down by microorganisms. One of the resulting products is anaerobic digestate, which possesses the necessary nutrients for effective fertilization for crop production. In addition to reducing greenhouse gases and waste in landfills, the replacement of synthetic fertilizers with ones made from food waste would help to alleviate the impacts of the current fertilizer shortage being experienced worldwide, which will be exacerbated by a reducing supply of materials needed for synthetic fertilizer production. In this paper, we discuss the nutrient characteristics of FWAD, and recent studies utilizing FWAD in horticulture and crop production, to advance our understanding of the effectiveness and challenges of using FWAD as a fertilizer. By employing appropriate application methods, such as nitrification, dilution, and amendment, FWAD demonstrates considerable potential as an effective fertilizer for a wide range of leafy greens and some fruiting crops.

Suggested Citation

  • Jonathan Ries & Zhihao Chen & Yujin Park, 2023. "Potential Applications of Food-Waste-Based Anaerobic Digestate for Sustainable Crop Production Practice," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-12, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:11:p:8520-:d:1154623
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Michael Martin & Sofia Poulikidou & Elvira Molin, 2019. "Exploring the Environmental Performance of Urban Symbiosis for Vertical Hydroponic Farming," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-18, November.
    2. Karl-Johan Bergstrand & Håkan Asp & Malin Hultberg, 2020. "Utilizing Anaerobic Digestates as Nutrient Solutions in Hydroponic Production Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-12, December.
    3. Hong-Duck Ryu & Do Young Lim & Sun-Jung Kim & Un-Il Baek & Eu Gene Chung & Kyunghyun Kim & Jae Kwan Lee, 2020. "Struvite Precipitation for Sustainable Recovery of Nitrogen and Phosphorus from Anaerobic Digestion Effluents of Swine Manure," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-15, October.
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