Archive:000/Crop residues: Difference between revisions

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''Biomass waste'' refers to the ''parts of food crops'' that humans '''can't''' eat. This material is mostly fibre (cellulose).
Nearly every food crop has some parts that are too fibrous for people to eat. These are referred to as [[crop residues]] or ''biomass waste.''


'''Examples:'''
'''Examples:'''
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* peanut shells
* peanut shells
* coconut shells
* coconut shells
* empty corn cobs with no kernels.
* empty corn cobs with no kernels
* rice husks
* sunflower seed husks
* [[straw]]
* [[straw]]
 
<!--
'''Abundance:'''
'''Abundance:'''
* Production is roughly equal to food production, because about half of the average food crop is biomass waste (the other half is food).
* Production is roughly equal to food production, because about half of the average food crop is biomass waste (the other half is food).
* This page needs more precise numbers.
* This page needs more precise numbers.
 
-->
'''Uses:'''
'''Uses:'''
# All biomass waste can be burned for [[energy]].
# All biomass waste can be burned for [[energy]].
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3 and 4 are both ways to convert fiber into human-edible protein & calories. Help figure out which of these processes is more efficient overall. This page doesn't have enough information yet - join the {{talk}}.
3 and 4 are both ways to convert fiber into human-edible protein & calories. Help figure out which of these processes is more efficient overall. This page doesn't have enough information yet - join the {{talk}}.


<!--
==Supply==
==Supply==
{{dp
{{dp
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|4 kalorie/gram
|4 kalorie/gram
}}
}}
{{dp
|power_plant.efficiency
|33%
|How much of the fuel combustion heat becomes electricity
|This applies to any power plant that runs on biomass, coal, nuclear fission, or in some cases natural gas. The fuel heats water which generates steam to drive a turbine that generates electricity.
}}
How much does the world produce:
{{calc
{{calc
|crop_residues / world.population
|crop_residues / world.population
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|dry_mass
|dry_mass
}}
}}
If all of it was burned for [[energy]], it would be equivalent to burning:
{{calc
{{calc
|dry_mass * fiber.energy_by_mass
|dry_mass * fiber.energy_by_mass
|cups gasoline/day per capita
}}
If it was burned in a power plant, the electricity generated would be:
{{calc
|dry_mass * fiber.energy_by_mass * power_plant.efficiency
|watts per capita
|watts per capita
}}
}}
-->
 
<!--
'''Biomass energy is nowhere near enough to power the world.'''
How much biomass waste is produced ''per capita'' worldwide? Here are some ways to visualize it:
 
_ grams/day (fiber dry mass)
<!--But it's still better than nothing, and at least it's not the same as [[biofuel|burning edible food]].-->
_ mL gasoline/day (equivalent energy)
_ [[Term:kalories|]]/day
_ watts
-->

Revision as of 21:20, 5 April 2023

Nearly every food crop has some parts that are too fibrous for people to eat. These are referred to as crop residues or biomass waste.

Examples:

  • banana leaves
  • peanut shells
  • coconut shells
  • empty corn cobs with no kernels
  • rice husks
  • sunflower seed husks
  • straw

Uses:

  1. All biomass waste can be burned for energy.
  2. Some kinds of biomass waste can be converted into packaging.
  3. Some kinds of biomass waste can be fed to ruminants (cows).
  4. Some kinds of biomass waste can be used for cultivating mushrooms.
  5. If there's no other use, biomass waste can be composted back into the soil.

3 and 4 are both ways to convert fiber into human-edible protein & calories. Help figure out which of these processes is more efficient overall. This page doesn't have enough information yet - join the  discussiondiscussion.

Supply

crop_residues
1.7 billion tonnes/year
Dry mass of all crop residues, byproducts, and oilseed cakes except for soybean
This should be, in principle, all the human-inedible parts of food crops (inedible due to being too fibrous; ruminants can digest the fiber and get calories from it).
Soybean meal is not counted here, because it can be turned into human food (soy flour).

Source:
Breewood, H. & Garnett, T. (2020). What is feed-food competition? (Foodsource: building blocks). Food Climate Research Network, University of Oxford.
Page 10
References primary source:
Mottet, A., de Haan, C., Falcucci, A., Tempio, G., Opio, C., & Gerber, P. (2017). Livestock: On our plates or eating at our table? A new analysis of the feed/food debate. Global Food Security.

world.population
8 billion
kalorie
kcal
A food calorie
fiber.energy_by_mass
4 kalorie/gram
power_plant.efficiency
33%
How much of the fuel combustion heat becomes electricity
This applies to any power plant that runs on biomass, coal, nuclear fission, or in some cases natural gas. The fuel heats water which generates steam to drive a turbine that generates electricity.


How much does the world produce: crop_residues / world.population grams/day per capita dry_mass (calculation loading)


If all of it was burned for energy, it would be equivalent to burning: dry_mass * fiber.energy_by_mass cups gasoline/day per capita (calculation loading)


If it was burned in a power plant, the electricity generated would be: dry_mass * fiber.energy_by_mass * power_plant.efficiency watts per capita (calculation loading)

Biomass energy is nowhere near enough to power the world.