Resource recovery from bio-based production processes in developing Asia

Abstract

While the demand for limited resources is growing, the concept of resource recovery is of critical importance and applies to the use of renewable resources. A key area where resource recovery in developing economies can be applied is in bio-based production processes, which are usually directly related to the processing of agricultural products. This is because of the unutilized resource recovery potential within the ecosystem and the relatively significant share primary agriculture has as a percentage of the gross domestic product (GDP) of developing countries, especially in developing Asia. In this work, a comprehensive review of resource recovery opportunities from bio-based production processes in developing Asia is carried out. Through this review, our viewpoint is that introducing the concept of resource recovery may be a necessity in an economic, legal and environmental sense in bio-based production in developing Asian countries. Resource recovery in bio-based production processes will make these processes more economically viable, globally competitive and compliant to tight environmental regulations that are required to be met by markets in the developed world.