Bioeconomía en la práctica: de residuos en ferias del agricultor a productos con valor

The Centro Agrícola Cantonal de Desamparados (CACD) manages five Farmers' Markets. Although they represent an important meeting point for trade, production, and the supply of fresh produce to consumers, they also generate significant amounts of waste. According to the CACD, these marketing points are estimated to generate at least 40 tons of solid waste per month, resulting from discarded food and other inedible portions sent to landfills. Given that the CAC has a property called Finca La Laguna, it is considered possible in the future to develop a system for the recovery of the aforementioned waste; however, the possible alternatives for the recovery and valorisation of the waste from these farmers' markets administered by the CACD are unknown, thus constituting the problem of this research.
To address the situation, the project aims to evaluate bioeconomic alternatives for the recovery of organic waste generated by the farmers' markets administered by the CACD, based on a descriptive and multi-criteria process, using one of the markets (Zapote) as piloting case. Alternatives such as composting, biodigestion, and pyrolysis to obtain biochar are being considered. Among the methodological steps, characterising the organic waste generated at the Zapote Farmer's Fair will help determine the most appropriate treatments for the matrix and volume of waste. Next, an analysis of the recovery alternatives will be made through experimentation and study of technical and sustainability parameters (environmental, economic and social), and finally, with these findings, the prioritisation of alternatives will take place, through a multi-criteria decision process. The results will be provided to the CACD so that the organisation can advance in the roadmap that has been drawn up, culminating in a few years with the implementation and scaling of the management system, including the waste of their other farmers’ markets. In the process, qualitative methods based on participation and expert criteria will be used, along with observation and literature reviews. Quantitative methods will also be used, including statistical analysis of experimental design data (based on variables such as temperature, pH, humidity, granulometry, and macronutrient availability), environmental and social criteria based on Life Cycle Analysis studies (environmental and social), and economic criteria. Finally, the Hierarchical Analysis Process method will support the prioritisation of alternatives.
Working on this research is important first because, although the topic has been studied, it has not always been applied to multi-criteria decision-making exercises to support the management of the organisations like CACs. In addition, it would reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, generate valuable products for reincorporation into other production cycles, and have an impact on public and environmental health. From the point of view of public policy, it responds to goals set out in the National Plan for Composting, Decarbonization, Circular Economy, and Bioeconomy.

Evaluar alternativas bioeconómicas para la valorización de residuos orgánicos generados por las ferias del agricultor administradas por el CACD, partiendo de un proceso descriptivo y multicriterio con los residuos de la feria de Zapote.

Bioeconomia