Valorization of agricultural residues: Challenges and opportunities in the production of bio-based materials

Environmental pollution and resource waste resulting from the disposal of agricultural biomass waste have become a global issue. Consequently, the pursuit of sustainable strategies for recycling such waste biomass and achieving its efficient and high-value conversion has emerged as a critical challenge that presents for both the global academic and industrial communities. This work provides a comprehensive overview of the current advancements in recycling and conversion of agricultural biomass waste into a variety of bio-based materials, with a particular focus on the biochar, nanocellulose, and bio-based plastics. Potential applications of these bio-based materials in agriculture and beyond with high added-value, such as cosmetics and biomedicine, are discussed with representative cases study. This review also highlights the challenges and future prospects in converting agricultural residues into various bio-based materials. It is hoped that this review will contribute to the understanding and promotion of recycling and reutilization of agricultural biomass waste, offering promising solutions for sustainable development of agricultural production.