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Bioactive Compounds of Agro-Industrial By-Products: Current Trends, Recovery, and Possible Utilization

Summary

This research examines how food industry waste and by-products can be transformed into valuable compounds for use in food, packaging, and other applications. Instead of discarding materials like fruit peels and processing residues, these can be sources of beneficial compounds that have antioxidant properties and other health benefits. Impacts on everyday life: – Reduces food waste by finding uses for materials that would otherwise be discarded – Provides natural alternatives to synthetic food additives and preservatives – Enables development of eco-friendly food packaging to replace plastic – Creates new sources of nutritional supplements and functional food ingredients – Helps make food production more sustainable and environmentally friendly

Background

Domestic food waste and agro-industrial by-products (AIBPs) occurring throughout the food chain have become a global sustainability concern. According to the UN Environment Program’s Food Waste Index Report 2024, 19% (1.05 billion tons) of total global food production is wasted, equivalent to 132 kg per capita per year. These by-products contain significant amounts of commercially vital bioactive compounds, with discarded materials like fruit and vegetable peels often containing more bioactive compounds than edible pulp.

Objective

This review aims to provide comprehensive information on major agro-industrial by-products (AIBPs), methods for recovering bioactive compounds (focusing on polyphenols, carotenoids, oligosaccharides, and pectin), microencapsulation techniques for enhanced properties, and commercial applications. The review also examines green extraction methods, circular bio-economy approaches, challenges in waste valorization, and future perspectives.

Results

The review identified numerous valuable bioactive compounds in AIBPs, including polyphenols, carotenoids, proteins, enzymes, and dietary fiber. Various extraction methods were evaluated, with green extraction techniques showing promise for sustainable recovery. Microencapsulation was found effective for preserving bioactive properties. Multiple commercial applications were identified in food, nutraceuticals, packaging, and other industries. The review also highlighted challenges in AIBP valorization including microbial spoilage, extraction costs, and stability issues.

Conclusion

While significant advances have been made in AIBP valorization, several challenges remain regarding industrial scale-up, economic viability, and comprehensive utilization. Future research should focus on optimizing extraction methods, developing cost-effective processes, and implementing circular bioeconomy approaches. Additional studies are needed on non-extractable polyphenols, direct applications of NADES extracts, and commercial-scale production of bioactive packaging materials.
  • Published in:Antioxidants,
  • Study Type:Review,
  • Source: 10.3390/antiox14060650
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