From rice straw to corn stover, agricultural byproducts are being reinvented as valuable sources of carbon, energy, and chemicals. By turning these residues into fuels, oils, and polymers, industries are demonstrating that waste is not an endpoint, but the foundation of a circular economy.
Turning crop residues to high-value revenues
Residues like rice straw, wheat straw, and corn stover are among the most abundant byproducts of global agriculture. Around 144 million tons of wheat straw alone is produced every year. Yet, in many parts of the world, these materials are burned or left to decompose, contributing to pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Converting them to valuable feedstocks has the power to reduce environmental harm, create economic opportunities for farmers, and provide carbon-rich materials for industrial applications.
Historically, waste has been treated as the final step in a linear model; from production, to consumption, to disposal. Agricultural residues are no exception. Farmers often have no practical alternative but to discard these byproducts, often by burning them en masse, causing environmental and health challenges.
But these residues hold untapped potential. Like petroleum, they contain fixed carbon and energy potential, but with a crucial difference: they’re renewable. The challenge is that agricultural biomass is both seasonal and diverse in its quality and composition, requiring careful processing to unlock its value.
From field to feedstock
Transforming agricultural residues into usable products involves two critical steps: fractionation and depolymerization, which are the followed by biotechnological upgrading.
Fractionation separates the plant material into its main components:
- Cellulose & hemicellulose: Sugar-rich polymers.
- Lignin: The tough, woody part of the plant.
Depolymerization breaks down cellulose and hemicellulose into simple sugars, which can be used to:
- Produce microbial oils for sustainable fuels or green plastics.
- Produce platform molecules for the refinery of the future.
- Lignin can be converted into aromatic chemicals for plastics, solvents, and other industrial products.
These high-value waste streams can be seamlessly processed in existing refinery assets, allowing industries to take advantage of decarbonized refinery products while reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
Opportunities for farmers and communities
Harnessing agricultural residues goes beyond sustainability to create new income streams for farmers. Roughly 1.1 billion tons of corn is harvested every year, and around half the weight of these corn plants is estimated to be stover. However, up to 35% of the corn stover is cellulose, with high percentages of hemicellulose and lignin as well.
Moreover, using residues as feedstock does not compete with food production. The primary output, such as corn, is still harvested for human consumption, while side streams are captured for energy and chemicals. In effect, it’s a complementary system that enhances the sustainability of agriculture itself.
Scaling challenges and solutions
As is so often the case with pioneering technologies, the challenge lies in scaling up. Biomass is geographically dispersed and seasonal. Collecting, transporting, and standardizing feedstocks is a significant hurdle. Overcoming it demands intelligent strategies and partnerships across industries, governments, and local communities.
OMV is exploring projects using agricultural residues to produce high-value biochemicals. In doing so, we’re demonstrating the real-world potential of these residues. Successfully converting variable, seasonally dependent materials into usable products requires advanced processing technologies combined with an ecosystem of expertise. In-house research and collaborations across academia, technology providers, and industry partners have all been key to unlocking agricultural waste streams. These partnerships enable innovative solutions to scale from pilot projects to industrial operations.
Building a circular future
Agricultural residues are a microcosm for the broader potential of circular thinking. By converting what was once considered waste into fuels, chemicals, and materials, we reduce emissions, create economic value, and reduce our fossil fuel dependence.
Waste is the beginning of a new cycle of value creation. This process brings with it increased opportunities for farmers and communities, as well as a resilient and future-proofed supply chain. By harnessing agricultural residues, industries can demonstrate that profitability and sustainability are mutually reinforcing pathways to a circular future.