Editorial

Circular Economy and Technical Potential of Agricultural Residues in the Pannonian and Northern Croatia

Ana Malešević ; Studentica diplomskog sveučilišnog studija „Agroekonomika“, Fakultet agrobiotehničkih znanosti Osijek, Sveučilište Josipa Jurja Strossmayera u Osijeku, Vladimira Preloga 1, Osijek, Hrvatska
Jelena Kristić ; Fakultet agrobiotehničkih znanosti Osijek, Sveučilište Josipa Jurja Strossmayera u Osijeku, Vladimira Preloga 1, Osijek, Hrvatska
Lucija Pečurlić ; Fakultet agrobiotehničkih znanosti Osijek, Sveučilište Josipa Jurja Strossmayera u Osijeku, Vladimira Preloga 1, Osijek, Hrvatska
Sanja Jelić Milković ; Fakultet agrobiotehničkih znanosti Osijek, Sveučilište Josipa Jurja Strossmayera u Osijeku, Vladimira Preloga 1, Osijek, Hrvatska

Abstract

Circular economy is an innovative approach to resource management based on waste minimization, reuse, recycling, and renewable sources. In the context of agricultural residues, circular economy opens a door to sustainable use of these resources for the creation of a new value. Agricultural residues, such as the crop residues, animal excreta, and the residues from the fruit and wine industry, can be converted into various products such as an organic fertilizer, compost, food, medicines, electricity, and many others. The aim of this paper is to determinean economic potential of agricultural residues of the main cereals (wheat, barley, and maize), oilseeds (sunflower, soybean, and rapeseed), sugar beet, and the residues from viticulture and fruit growing (apples) in the Pannonian region and Northern Croatia and to determine their potential technical utilization. The study was carried out on the basis of available statistical data for the year 2022, and the RenewIslands ADEG method was applied to calculate a technical potential of agricultural residues of Pannonia and Northern Croatia for the year 2022. Based on the available data, the technical potential of cereals in 2022 was calculated to amount to 1,864,398.00 tons, 574,413.23 tons of oilseeds, 31,663.96 tons of sugar beet, and 80,536.27 tons of vines and fruit trees. The study’s results circumstantiate that the large amounts of biomass are available for further processing in Pannonia and Northern Croatia, which unfortunately are not yet sufficiently utilized. The implementation of circular economy in the Republic of Croatia requires coordinated efforts at all levels of economy and society. This approach not only contributes to the preservation of the environment, but it also has a potential to create the new jobs and reduce the negative environmental impacts.

Keywords

circular economy, technical potential, agricultural residues, biomass, waste, sustainability

Hrčak ID:

319683

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/319683

Publication date:

20.7.2024.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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