By Abbas Nazil
Agricultural waste that is often burned or left to decay could play a major role in slowing climate change if it is instead used in long-lasting building materials, according to new research from the University of East London.
The study finds that fibrous crop residues from staples such as wheat, rice, and maize, which are produced in billions of tonnes each year globally, can act as an effective carbon sink when incorporated into construction products like insulation, boards, and panels.
By locking carbon into durable materials, the research shows that emissions which would normally return to the atmosphere within months could instead be stored for decades.
The findings suggest that redirecting farm waste away from open burning and short-term uses could deliver a sustained cooling effect on the climate over the next century.
The research was led by Dr. Bamdad Ayati of the University of East London’s Sustainability Research Institute and is among the first to examine this opportunity at a global scale using a dynamic life-cycle assessment approach.
Unlike traditional carbon accounting methods, the dynamic model tracks when carbon is released or stored over time, revealing that the timing of emissions plays a critical role in determining overall climate impact.
According to the study, agricultural residues currently amount to about 4.4 billion tonnes of dry matter each year worldwide, yet only a small fraction is used in long-lived products.
Most of this biomass is instead burned in open fields, used as animal feed, converted into energy, or left to decompose, processes that rapidly return carbon to the atmosphere.
The researchers argue that simply ending open burning and diverting residues into durable construction materials could generate meaningful climate benefits.
They also note that if renewable energy sources are used to replace any displaced biomass energy, the positive climate impact would be even greater.
The study highlights a significant mismatch between the scale of available agricultural biomass and the limited extent to which it is currently used in long-lasting applications.
Even with ambitious growth in bio-based insulation, the research shows that only a small share of global residues would be absorbed.
To unlock the full potential of farm waste as a climate solution, the authors say the construction sector must expand the use of bio-based materials beyond niche markets.
This would require wider adoption of agricultural fibers in mainstream building products and greater integration into construction supply chains.
Dr. Ayati said the findings reveal an overlooked climate opportunity embedded in everyday agricultural practices.
He explained that large volumes of residues are currently treated as waste, despite their capacity to store carbon safely and effectively for long periods.
By reframing agricultural residues from a disposal problem into a climate resource, the study suggests policymakers and industry could address emissions while reducing pollution from open burning.
The research also has implications for air quality and public health, particularly in regions where residue burning is widespread.
Reducing open burning could lower particulate pollution while simultaneously contributing to climate mitigation.
The study, titled “Dynamic life cycle assessment of fibrous agricultural residues for long-lived carbon storage in building materials,” was published in the journal *Cleaner Environmental Systems*.
It involved researchers from the University of East London’s Sustainability Research Institute and its School of Architecture, Computing and Engineering.
The authors conclude that agricultural waste, if properly managed, could become a valuable tool in global efforts to reduce emissions and slow climate change over the coming decades.
