Holistic approach in the valorization of fruit and vegetable by-products generated through processing and postharvest storage.

Abstract

A large amount of fruit and vegetable waste is generated after harvest, during processing from the food industry and along the supply chain due to fresh produce quality deterioration. Fruit and vegetable waste may impact various sectors, such as the environment, economy, and society. In the last two decades, several studies have tried to mitigate the impact of fruit and vegetable waste by developing and optimizing extraction methods, targeting specific compounds without considering the value and further utilization of the remaining wet residue. Recently, biorefinery systems have been explored and developed for the holistic valorization of fruit and vegetable waste. The current research aims to summarize recent studies examining the valorization of different fruit and vegetable by-products using a holistic biorefinery approach. The various steps in a biorefinery process are presented and discussed. Biorefinery systems should be chosen and developed considering the presence or absence of fat-soluble compounds (i.e., oils) in fruit and vegetable waste. In the current study, different biorefinery systems are proposed based on fruit and vegetable waste composition. In conclusion, the phytochemicals and products produced during the biorefinery process can benefit various industries, such as: the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, transportation, chemical, heating, agricultural, and horticultural industries. Future multidisciplinary studies are encouraged to investigate the techno-economic and environmental impacts of the biorefinery processes.