Frontiers and trends of agricultural waste resource utilization in China

Agricultural organic waste resource utilization was a key pathway for improving the efficiency of resource recycling, controlling agricultural pollution, and promoting the green transformation of agricultural development. This study explored the research hotspots, key scientific questions, and technological innovation trends associated with different types of agricultural wastes. Using bibliometric methods, the study found that aerobic composting and anaerobic digestion were the mainstream technologies for the treatment and utilization of organic wastes, whereas research on waste agricultural films focused primarily on recycling and the development of new biodegradable products. Although research on technologies such as aerobic composting and maturation, straw return to fields, pyrolysis and gasification, and the removal of emerging pollutants was on par with international standards, a gap remained in equipment standardization. Technologies such as anaerobic fermentation, lagoon, process monitoring and intelligent management, as well as the recovery and treatment of waste agricultural films, were still at a developmental stage, and a significant gap existed in technologies for the high-value utilization of waste. Overall, challenges remained, including unclear transformation mechanisms, poor applicability of technical equipment, low efficiency in resource recycling, and undefined risks associated with safe land application. Based on a comprehensive analysis, it was projected that scientific and technological innovation in agricultural waste resource utilization would exhibit the following trends: integrated mechanism research, cleaner and more efficient technology and equipment, diversified development of high-value products, precision and intelligence in recycling processes, and integrated demonstration and application. For instance, in the diversified and high-value utilization of crop straw, advanced technologies such as Flash Joule heating and off-field electrocatalysis could be employed to prioritize the development of high-value products, including flash graphene, straw-derived sugars, bio-jet fuel, green methanol, and bioplastics. For targeted and precise management of livestock and poultry manure, integrating techniques such as specialized habitat domestication, isotope labelling, and material modification could accelerate the research, development, application, and performance monitoring of novel additives—such as specialized functional microbial agents and nano-composting agents—to achieve rapid composting. In-depth investigation into material transformation pathways, supported by technologies like carbon chain extension, could facilitate the development of high-value intermediates such as short- and medium-chain fatty acids and humic acid. In terms of technical equipment, emphasis was placed on “AI+” technologies, utilizing convolutional neural networks and machine learning to establish high-precision, high-sensitivity intelligent control and recognition systems, thereby improving the accuracy of compost maturity image recognition, the sensitivity of sensor monitoring, and the stability of equipment. Regarding biodegradable agricultural film and intelligent recycling, efforts were intensified to address challenges related to the thickness and mechanical strength of biodegradable films, to develop plastic identification technologies integrating optics and artificial intelligence, and to produce integrated equipment for straw shredding and agricultural film recycling, thereby further enhancing the recycling efficiency and sorting accuracy of waste agricultural film. Therefore, based on analysing and summarizing recent advances in research, and following the principles of industrial and scientific development, this paper identifies potential innovations and breakthroughs in cutting-edge scientific theories, emerging technologies, and mature equipment that may affect the future development of this field. It provides theoretical support for achieving the efficient treatment and utilization of agricultural waste, fulfilling the "dual carbon" goals, and promoting the development of green agriculture in China.