Biofuel Production from Agricultural Residue: An Effective and Sustainable Approach for Management of Agro-waste

Agriculture intensification for production of more food to feed an increasing global population, as a consequence, generates a large volume of agricultural waste. The agro-waste, which is biochemically composed of cellulose, lignin, and hemicellulose, is frequently burned or buried in the soil. These disposal methods result in the release of noxious compounds into the environment that agitates the problem of pollution, human health issues, and global warming. To overcome such drawbacks, some agro-wastes are utilized for roof thatching, soil mulching, and making products like papers, matchsticks, and others. Nevertheless, these approaches cannot entirely solve the problem of agricultural residue generation. However, the conversion of plant biomass into biofuel could facilitate the reduction of residue comprehensively along with the generation of value-added products. The production of biofuel can be mediated by the action of certain microorganisms and enzymes. The efficient utilization of such microbes and/or enzymes could facilitate sustainable management of agro-waste with the generation of renewable bioenergy and economic benefits.