Unlocking the Potential of Organic Waste for Sustainable Agriculture in the Global South: A South Asian Example

Effective resource management is critical for addressing climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, yet it is often overlooked in planning. In the Global South, including Bangladesh, food security is undermined by dependence on imported chemical fertilizers. This study examines how recycling organic residues can reduce this reliance and transform agricultural practices. Bangladesh generates about 229 million tons of residues, mainly cattle manure, containing roughly 11.5 million tons of nutrients—far exceeding the 1.4 million tons of imported fertilizers, valued at USD 12.95 billion in 2022. Proper recycling could supply nutrients for the existing 8.8 million hectares of cropland and support 20–70 million additional hectares, improving soil health, crop yields, and farmers' incomes. Achieving this requires an urgent paradigm shift in residue management, supported by strong policies to recover and recycle all nutrients, turning waste into a strategic resource for food security.