Sustainable Biosilica Agroindustry: A Novel Conceptual Design for Value-Added Utilization of Agricultural By-products

Abstract Agricultural by-products, often discarded, offer a vast untapped resource of biosilica, which can be valued by selectively targeting high-silica residues. This paper introduces a conceptual design framework, grounded in a systematic synthesis of recent literature, to organize green extraction routes, circular economy principles, and opportunities to enhance energy self-sufficiency via recovered heat from biomass pre-treatment. The bio silica industry makes a wide range of products for use in construction, electronics, agriculture, and biomedicine. This study develops a conceptual framework for Sustainable Biosilica Agroindustry by following Jabareen’s qualitative procedure for building conceptual frameworks. This model has socio-environmental benefits by reducing reliance on non-renewable silica, minimizing agricultural waste accumulation, and establishing a profitable value chain. However, successful implementation necessitates addressing issues of scalability, policy integration, market adoption, and quality standardization. This method advances biobased circular design by clarifying trade-offs early and building evidence for stakeholders, reducing reliance on virgin mined silica while strengthening rural value chains.