Ácido cítrico sostenible a partir de los residuos agroindustriales. El caso de Diana Food Ecuador S.A.

Abstract

The main objective of this degree work is to analyze the viability of producing sustainable citric acid from the waste generated in the Diana Food production process. The research is framed in the circular economy and seeks to evaluate the economic, social and environmental aspects of this proposal in the province of El Oro, Ecuador. The methodology used is applied, with a systemic approach and a deductive method. The research technique used is the study of documents, specifically content analysis. The results obtained reveal that Ecuador imports a significant amount of citric acid, mainly from China, which poses challenges in terms of economy and food security. The sustainable production of citric acid from agro-industrial waste could reduce dependence on imports and generate local employment, aligning with global trends towards sustainability. Collaboration between industry, academia and authorities stands out as a key element in this process. Each of these actors plays a fundamental role: the industry provides experience and resources, academia carries out rigorous research, and authorities establish standards and regulations to guarantee product safety and quality. The need for accurate evaluation and the promotion of research and collaboration between different actors is underlined. The sustainable production of citric acid from agroindustrial waste is a proposal with potential, but its success will depend on overcoming technical challenges and establishing collaborations between different sectors.