## 3 Results
### Data Analysis on Sustainable and Innovative Techniques for Soils on the Ecuadorian Coast  
With a focus on sustainable and innovative techniques for improving expansive soils, the main industrial and agro-industrial products on the Ecuadorian coast were investigated to gain insight into the waste generated and its use, as shown in Tables 4-6. During 2024, the sector with the highest growth in gross value added (GVA) in Ecuador was agriculture, livestock, and forestry, with 3.1%, followed by real estate and financial activities. This growth in the agricultural sector is relevant for studies on the circular economy, as it generates large volumes of organic waste (rice husks, sugarcane bagasse, coffee waste, plant fibers), which can be used as natural stabilizers in expansive soils, contributing to sustainable construction practices. This approach represents a technical alternative for soil improvement, reducing dependence on traditional additives such as lime or cement. On the other hand, industrial sectors such as non-food manufacturing (\(-\)5.7%) and construction (\(-\)7.8%) are experiencing a considerable decline, reflecting economic challenges and opportunities to redesign production processes toward more sustainable models (Figure 7) [126]. Byproducts such as slag, crushed ceramics, or waste from technical processes can stabilize soil. This utilization of waste mitigates its environmental impact and drives the development of geotechnical solutions with a lower carbon footprint, aligned with the principles of the circular economy and climate resilience. The latest national census in Ecuador showed that the area under permanent crops in 2023 was 1.4 million hectares. Regarding cocoa production, it represents 42.2% of the total planted area. In 2023, bananas, sugarcane, and African palm were the most produced crops nationwide (Figure 8a,b) [127]. Figure 7: Rate of variation of gross value added by industry in 2024 (modified from Banco Central del Ecuador [126]). The area planted with transitional crops in 2023 was 940,717 hectares. Rice accounts for 38.1% of the total planted area. In 2023, dry durum corn, paddy rice, and potatoes were the most widely produced crops nationwide (Figure 9a,b) [127]. The results indicate that the Ecuadorian coast is a region with a strong presence of agro-industrial activities, with products such as bananas, cocoa, coffee, rice, and African palm leading the production and export [127]. According to [PERSON] et al. [128], agroindustry generates approximately 2.2 million tons of waste annually in Ecuador. This waste is mainly lignocellulosic or contains starch. Although there is no official data detailing the specific amount of each type of waste, it is known that the Ecuadorian agroindustry generates a large amount of potential raw material for new sustainable products. However, in their research, [PERSON] et al. [128] classify the waste generated by agroindustry, which varies according to its characteristics. Those of interest in the improvement of expansive soils have been selected as the following:  
Figure 8: Area and production of permanent crops in Ecuador. (a) Share the total planted area. (b) Production of permanent crops (millions of tons). Modified from INEC [127]. Figure 9: Area and production of transitional crops in Ecuador. (a) Share the total planted area. (b) Production of transitional crops (millions of tons). Modified from INEC [127]. * Sugarcane: Sugarcane processing primarily produces green bagasse, which accounts for between 37 and 42% of the total, yielding between 580 and 630 kg of juice per ton processed. * Banana and plantain: The raw material arrives at the factory as bunches containing the fruit attached to the stem. A bunch consists of 60% fruit, 25% peel, and 15% stem, from which the fruit is used. Although the banana plant is more robust than the plantain, the same percentages are used for both.