Agro-ecological strategies for resilient farming in West Africa (Sustainable Bio-Bricks from Agricultural Waste: Building a Circular Economy in Construction)
Description
Maize cobs, rice straw and groundnut husks, agro-residues typically burned or landfilled after harvest, are mixed with locally sourced soil and compressed into Compressed Earth Blocks (bio-bricks) using a simple manual press. The CIRAWA process produces low-carbon building materials that substitute energy-intensive fired clay bricks, converting farm waste into a durable construction product with no need for cement or industrial kilns.
Sector
A1.6Support activities to agriculture and post-harvest crop activities
Needs/ Problem statement
West Africa faces high vulnerability to climate change due to climate variability and reliance on rain-fed agriculture, with smallholder systems having little adaptive capacity. Among the agro-waste valorisation challenges addressed, agro-residues such as maize cobs, rice straw and groundnut husks are typically burned or landfilled, causing environmental pollution, while conventional burnt clay bricks used in construction are energy- and carbon-intensive.
Objective
The project aims to support a transition to sustainable food systems in West Africa through four agro-ecological strategies: agro-waste valorisation and bio-based fertiliser production, quality seed production, saline soil reclamation through phytoremediation, and soil/water/crop management. Within the agro-waste valorisation strand, the University of Valladolid is developing bio-bricks (Compressed Earth Blocks) from agricultural residues as a low-carbon alternative to conventional burnt clay bricks.
Bioeconomy fields
Crop residues and perennial plantsx
Designer crops for optimised biomass contentnull
Algae biomassnull
Waste or recycled materialx
Microbial assisted processingnull
Biorefineries null
Feedstock
Biomass residues
Outcomes and final product
Compressed earth bio-bricks (CEBs) incorporating maize cobs, rice straw and groundnut husks; manual press machine prototype; sustainable alternative to burnt clay bricks for low-rise construction.
Mobility
null
Value chains
1
2
3
3 - High potential - Significant arisings of feedstocks available currently.
C Sink
1
2
3
2 - Medium potential - strong potential for carbon sequestration at the feedstock or product level only.
Intended user
Small-scale builders and rural construction cooperatives in cereal-growing regions. Requires locally available maize, rice or groundnut production. Manual press machine accessible to low-resource settings.
Complexity of the process
1
2
3
null
Final user
Farmerx
Foresternull
Researchernull
Advisornull
NGOnull
Training organizationnull
Processor or retailernull
Consumer✓
Public Authority + LAGnull
Othernull
Economic sustainability
1
2
3
2 - Medium potential - Expected to bring 2 or 1 economic benefits.
Social sustainability
1
2
3
2 - Medium potential -Expected to bring 2 or 1 social benefits.
Environmental sustainability
1
2
3
3 - High potential - Expected to bring at least 3 significant environmental benefits.
