Valorization of Agricultural Waste into High-Value Chemical Products

Agricultural waste is produced in vast quantities globally and is often underutilized, leading to environmental degradation and economic loss. The conversion of these residues into high-value chemical products such as biofuels, bioplastics, platform chemicals, and biofertilizers has emerged as a key strategy for advancing sustainable development and circular economy goals. This paper explores the potential of agricultural biomass—such as rice husks, corn stover, sugarcane bagasse, and fruit peels—as renewable feedstocks for producing valuable chemicals through biochemical, thermochemical, and catalytic conversion technologies. Emphasis is placed on innovative valorization methods, including fermentation, pyrolysis, hydrothermal liquefaction, and green catalysis, as well as the techno-economic and environmental benefits of these processes. This study also examines key challenges such as feedstock variability, process optimization, and market integration, while highlighting current industrial case studies and emerging research directions.