Implications of technological improvement and circular agriculture on environmental sustainability of sugarcane production
Aakriti Deuja, Min Hein Khant, Thapat Silalertruksa, Shabbir H. Gheewala, Trakarn Prapaspongsa
Cleaner Environmental Systems · 2025
The spatially differentiated environmental impacts and associated costs of technological improvement and circular agricultural practices in sugarcane production were assessed. Analysis of the cause-effect relationship between the key processes and substances each helped develop alternative scenarios for impact reduction. PM 2.5 emissions contributed to 92% of the total human health impacts from open burning of field residues. Freshwater ecotoxicity, mainly due to ametryn emissions from pesticide application, contributed to 47% of the total damage to the ecosystem. The environmental costs were 116% higher than the value of sugarcane production, signifying the critical importance of adopting alternative pathways that provide economic benefits from environmental cost reduction compared to the production value. Scenarios considering green cane harvesting and waste management approaches demonstrated high potential for total impact reduction of 99% and 97%, respectively, and economic gains of 202 and 225 billion THB, respectively (5.76 and 6.42 billion USD, respectively). The economic benefits of waste utilization were 137% higher than the value of sugarcane production, demonstrating the potential benefits of product substitution to help mitigate impacts. The core findings highlight the significance of the PM 2.5 impact-related external costs and underscore the benefits of adopting green cane harvesting in conjunction with on-field waste utilization to mitigate the impact of open burning and produce value-added products. Technological improvement and circular agricultural practices coupled with valuation of spatially differentiated impacts can provide useful and more accurate information to policymakers, to prioritize the implementation of mitigation strategies for enhancing the environmental sustainability of sugarcane production. • Improvement technologies for harvesting extend economic benefit of 5.76 billion USD • Circular agriculture yields economic gain of 6.42 billion USD by utilizing waste • Environmental cost of sugarcane production was 116% higher than production value • Economic benefits of waste utilization were 137% higher than production value
Life cycle assessment of integrated waste management systems towards carbon neutrality and environmental sustainability
Maneechotiros Rotthong, Shabbir H. Gheewala, Vladimir Strezov, Witsanu Attavanich, Pichaya Rachdawong, Trakarn Prapaspongsa
Cleaner Environmental Systems · 2025
This study develops a comprehensive framework for evaluating the environmental impacts of municipal solid waste (MSW) management in Thailand using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The framework covers collection, transportation, treatment, and avoided product utilization, considering different cluster sizes and technologies. Four conceptual scenarios were modeled: reference, current, waste management master plan, and improvement scenarios incorporating centralized and on-site systems. Results show that landfilling and incineration are major contributors to global warming, acidification, and eutrophication, while recycling and energy recovery technologies, including refuse-derived fuel (RDF) with waste-to-energy (WTE), substantially reduce impacts. Effective strategies vary by cluster size. For large clusters, optimal integration includes anaerobic digestion, composting, RDF with WTE, recycling, and landfilling. Medium clusters benefit from composting, RDF with WTE, recycling, and landfilling, whereas small clusters are best served by on-site home composting, incineration with WTE, recycling, and landfilling. A diversion of 95% of waste from landfills, combined with a 30% recycling rate, can lower climate change impacts by nearly 200%. Sensitivity analysis indicates that reducing MSW transport distances further decreases impacts. Applying spatial differentiation in Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) and using different LCIA methods yielded consistent trends. Overall, the proposed framework supports the development of carbon-neutral MSW management systems by optimizing technology integration, maximizing recycling and energy recovery, and minimizing landfill disposal. The cluster-based approach offers tailored solutions for developing countries, significantly mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts. • Optimized waste strategies lower carbon emissions and resource use • Cluster-based approaches enhance collaboration and efficiency in waste management • Optimized technologies and 30% recycling rate enable carbon-neutral waste management • Recycling and RDF with waste-to-energy by-products are key environmental benefits • Spatial and method variations alter values, not trends
Techno-economic feasibility analysis of hybrid renewable energy system for off-grid African communities: Insights from a Zambian case study
Satnam Singh Virdy, Francis Yamba, Manish Mishra, Isaac N. Simate, Mala Ramesh, Mwansa Kaoma, Edwin Luwaya, Simon M. Tembo, Shabbir H. Gheewala
International Journal of Renewable Energy Development · 2025
As hybrid renewable energy systems are increasingly adopted for rural electrification, this study presents an approach for optimizing off-grid systems in resource-abundant regions. Using a Zambian case study, this study demonstrates actionable insights into the optimal selection and configuration of components for a renewable energy-based off-grid system designed for remote, unelectrified communities with access to solar, wind, and biomass resources. The system's technical, economic, and environmental performance was evaluated through simulation in HOMER Pro software, using various photovoltaic panel ratings (335W, 400W, and 445W), battery technologies (lead-acid, lead-carbon, and lithium-ion), and dispatch strategies (load-following, cycle-charging, predictive-dispatch, and combined-dispatch). Among several configurations, the one featuring a 445W photovoltaic panel and a lithium-ion battery operating under the load-following strategy demonstrated the lowest cost and highest environmental benefits. This configuration resulted in a total lifetime system cost of USD 3.857 million and a levelized cost of electricity of 0.1522 USD per kilowatt-hour, while reducing emissions by 99.9% compared to a diesel-only system. Sensitivity analysis, considering ±20% variations in component costs and discount rate, showed that battery cost had the largest influence, causing a 5 to 12% variation in system cost. These findings suggest that combining high-efficiency solar panels with advanced battery storage and an appropriate dispatch strategy can significantly enhance the affordability and sustainability of off-grid renewable energy systems for rural communities worldwide.
Supplementary information for a systematic review of sustainability assessment methodologies, indicators, and decision-making tools for municipal solid waste management
Bumyut, Apirak, Trakarn Prapaspongsa, Vladimir Strezov, Nazmul Huda, Witsanu Attavanich, Shabbir H. Gheewala
Mendeley Data · 2025
Supplementary information for a systematic review of sustainability assessment methodologies, indicators, and decision-making tools for municipal solid waste management, including Table S1: Data extraction form; Table S2: Framework for sustainability assessment tools; and Table S3: Data dictionary for Table S1.
Optimizing sugarcane and cassava production in Thailand via water-energy food-land-climate nexus
Haseeb Akbar, Pariyapat Nilsalab, Shabbir H. Gheewala
Energy and Climate Change · 2025
Agriculture is a resource-intensive sector and a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. To achieve sustainable development goals, agrarian economies must identify hotspots and improve resource efficiency through a holistic assessment of multiple factors. Sugarcane and cassava production in Thailand were studied focusing on the Northeast, North, and Central regions where these crops are predominantly cultivated. A comparative analysis was carried out considering three approaches: water–energy–food, water–energy–food–land, and water–energy–food–land–climate nexus. Adding land and then climate to the traditional water-energy-food nexus revealed further insights in resource use and greenhouse gas emissions. The Northeast had the best performance vis-à-vis resource efficiency for both the crops. The Central region showed low resource efficiency for sugarcane and the North for cassava. The analysis of these differences revealed important issues related to inefficiencies in water, energy, and fertilizer use. The spatial variation in sustainability offers insights for policymakers, helping them to understand the interdependencies of sustainable agricultural production and target interventions where they are most needed.
Circular economy models of sugarcane biorefinery towards carbon neutrality and environmental sustainability
Shwe Yie Lin, Nicholas M. Holden, Romanee Thongdara, Thapat Silalertruksa, Shabbir H. Gheewala, Trakarn Prapaspongsa
Sustainable Production and Consumption · 2025
Sugarcane biorefineries convert sugarcane waste into bioproducts, requiring assessment for environmentally viable processing. This study compared the life cycle environmental impacts, environmental damage costs, and circularity of sugarcane biorefinery scenarios: a base case with pre-harvest cane trash burning and sugar and ethanol production; a modified one with improved energy efficiency; and three bioproduct scenarios producing bagasse-based biobutanol or biochar for bioenergy scenario, lactic or acetic acid for biochemicals, and cane trash-derived cellulose nanofibers or soil conditioner for biomaterials. Bioproduct scenarios assumed green cane harvesting. Life cycle assessment followed a cradle-to-gate scope, with a functional unit of 1 t of cane processed (t c ). Damage to human health ranged from 7.72 × 10 −4 to 2.85 × 10 −3 disability-adjusted life years/t c ; ecosystem from 4.85 × 10 −6 to 9.15 × 10 −6 species.year/t c ; resource scarcity from 10 to 60 United States dollar 2013/t c ; total damage costs from 2100 to 5410 Thai Baht/t c , and circularity from 0.44 to 0.52. Bioproduct scenarios, except cellulose nanofibers, had lower environmental damage costs than the base case. Biorefinery circularity aligned closely with the highest-value product in each scenario. Biochemical (lactic acid) was the best overall, with the lowest environmental damage cost and resource scarcity damage, relatively low human health and ecosystem damage, and a high circularity score of 0.5. Biomaterial (Cellulose nanofibers) was the worst due to its highest damage cost from the highest fossil resource scarcity, accounting for over 95 % of resources scarcity damage in all scenarios, and high-water consumption, despite minimum human health damage from the lowest fine particulate matter formation, leading contributor to human health damage mainly from cane burning and biomass electricity, and a high circularity of 0.52. The modified base case was slightly better than the base case across all metrics. Bioproduct scenarios increased circularity; however, higher circularity did not always correlate better environmental performance.
Life cycle assessment of agricultural systems toward circularity
Thanakon Sukuman, Shabbir H. Gheewala, Izuru Saizen, Trakarn Prapaspongsa
Sustainable Production and Consumption · 2025
Agricultural systems contribute significantly to environmental degradation and health impacts due to conventional practices such as postharvest open burning and the widespread use of chemical fertilizers. This study evaluates the potential for circular agricultural practices to mitigate these impacts in Thailand by repurposing agricultural residues for fertilizer, animal feed, and electricity. Utilizing a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, the environmental and economic outcomes of conventional versus circular agricultural practices were quantified, focusing on key Area of Protection (AoP) including disability-adjusted life years (DALY), ecosystem damage (species.yr), and resource depletion (USD 2013 ). The results demonstrate that conventional sugarcane and rice cultivation lead to substantial health impacts (up to 2910 DALY), significant ecosystem damage (up to 4.45 species.yr), and resource depletion costs of up to 14.9 million USD 2013 . In contrast, cassava cultivation, with its existing circular practices, shows comparatively lower impacts, including 415 DALY, 1.47 species.yr of ecosystem damage, and 10.4 million USD 2013 of resource depletion. Circular agricultural scenarios, using crop residues to produce organic fertilizers and animal feed, proved highly effective in reducing these burdens. Circular organic fertilizers reduced total costs by 57 %, while converting residues into animal feed resulted in a net economic benefit of 1.98 billion Thai Baht (THB), representing a 137 % reduction in costs compared to the baseline. The findings highlight the importance of transitioning to circular models, emphasizing the need for policy interventions, improved technology access, and enhanced farmer training to promote circular agricultural practices in Thailand.
Life Cycle Assessment of Microalgae-Based Products for Carbon Dioxide Utilization in Thailand: Biofertilizer, Fish Feed, and Biodiesel
Adeel Rafiq, Cameron W. Morris, Abigail Schudel, Shabbir H. Gheewala
F1000Research · 2024
<ns3:p>Background Microalgae-based products offer a sustainable solution for food, fuel, and agricultural inputs, presenting environmental benefits and economic opportunities. A comprehensive assessment is needed to understand their potential in supporting sustainability goals, considering the complex interplay between production methods, energy sources, and environmental impacts. Methods This study evaluated the environmental impacts of three microalgae-derived products – biodiesel, fish feed, and biofertilizer – through a comprehensive life cycle assessment. Nine scenarios were explored comparing three electricity profiles (current Thai mix, 50% renewable/50% current mix hybrid, 100% renewable) across the three products. The assessment evaluated environmental impacts and potential economic benefits of transitioning to these microalgae-based alternatives. Results and discussion All products demonstrated potential for significant environmental benefits under increased renewable energy scenarios. Fish feed consistently exhibited the lowest environmental impacts across all categories examined, showing substantial improvements with increased renewable energy use. With an annual demand of 0.4 million tonnes, fish feed could generate USD 560 million in revenue and reduce CO2 emissions by 1.1 million tonnes. Fulfilling the projected biodiesel demand of 4,015 million liters per year through microalgae production could yield approximately USD 3.5 billion in revenue and reduce CO2 emissions by 30 million tonnes compared to conventional fossil-based diesel. Additionally, algal biofertilizer production could meet a 5 million tonnes annual demand, offering USD 2 billion in revenue while reducing CO2 emissions by 6 million tonnes yearly. Collectively, these products could offset 37 million tonnes of CO2, representing about 14% of Thailand’s total CO2 emissions, contributing significantly to the country’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) target of 20-30% greenhouse gas emissions reduction. Conclusion Transitioning to microalgae-based products could transform the aquaculture, energy, and agricultural sectors, potentially supporting the national climate change mitigation goals, if implemented.</ns3:p>