Catalytic Conversion of Agricultural Residues for Sustainable Bioenergy and Bioproduct Systems

Catalysis plays an important role in the development of biomass conversion technologies for agricultural and agro-industrial residues. Processes such as catalytic pyrolysis, gasification, hydrothermal conversion, and catalytic upgrading of bio-oils provide routes for transforming lignocellulosic residues into fuels, chemicals, and functional materials. Recent research has increasingly highlighted the need for catalytic systems that address residue-specific challenges, including variable composition, ash- and alkali-related catalyst deactivation, and the constraints of distributed processing. Agricultural residues such as coffee pulp, husks, straw, bagasse, and other organic by-products therefore represent not only abundant renewable feedstocks, but also a distinct class of materials requiring tailored catalytic solutions.The transition toward sustainable energy and circular bioeconomy systems requires new approaches for converting agricultural residues into valuable products in ways that are technically efficient and regionally relevant. Large volumes of residues are generated each year from coffee, rice, sugarcane, forestry, and other agricultural systems, yet their effective utilization remains limited by feedstock heterogeneity, mineral impurities, moisture variability, and infrastructure constraints in many producing regions. Catalytic processes can help improve conversion efficiency, selectivity, and product quality, while also enabling more decentralized and modular biomass utilization pathways. This Research Topic aims to highlight advances in catalytic strategies specifically developed for agricultural residue valorization, with emphasis on residue-adapted catalyst design, catalyst stability, and process configurations suited to decentralized bioenergy and rural bioproduct systems.This Research Topic welcomes original research articles, reviews, and perspective papers addressing catalytic approaches for the sustainable conversion of agricultural biomass residues. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to: • Catalytic pyrolysis, gasification, and hydrothermal conversion of agricultural residues • Residue-specific catalyst design for lignocellulosic feedstocks with high ash or mineral content • Catalytic upgrading of residue-derived bio-oils and syngas • Catalyst deactivation, regeneration, and stability in agricultural residue conversion • Biochar- and residue-derived catalytic materials • Reactor and process design for distributed or modular catalytic conversion systems • Integrated catalytic routes for decentralized bioenergy and rural bioproduct applications • Environmental and techno-economic assessment of agricultural residue valorization pathwaysContributions that connect catalytic fundamentals with scalable and regionally relevant applications are particularly encouraged. Topic editors: Hynek Roubík, Jan Banout, Viktoriia Chubur Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/79704/catalytic-conversion-of-agricultural-residues-for-sustainable-bioenergy-and-bioproduct-systems