Recoverable biobased products from agro-food and industrial wastes: implications for wealth and health

Wastes can be defined as unwanted materials that are dumped away from several sources. It can be a by-product of home, agricultural, industrial, commercial, mining, and other ventures, sources, or activities. Nowadays such waste materials are not just waste; they are becoming the source of wealth and health. A substantial volume of organic waste, around 1.3 billion tons per year, is identified as a possible source of feedstock for biobased goods. Waste materials are being used for the development of various useful products, such as bioenergy, biomaterials, biotechnology, and so on. Wastes are valuable resources for health and wealth creation, with an emphasis on resources recovered from environmental and agro-food wastes applying via biotechnology. This review focuses on biotechnological applications in waste valorizations and examines the health and economic effects of obtaining resources from agro-food and environmental wastes. According to the quantitative findings, producing biogas from agro-food sector waste can provide between 80 and 150 m³ of biogas for every ton of fresh organic waste, which result in significant energy savings and greenhouse gas mitigation. Furthermore, it has been suggested that converting just 10% of the world’s food waste may result in financial gains of over 100 billion USD in addition to reducing the health hazards related to trash disposal. By demonstrating that the valorization not only generates financial gains through the development of bioplastics and biofertilizers but also improves health outcomes by reducing pollution and improving food safety, the paper highlights the double advantages of waste recovery. Besides, it emphasizes the application of biotechnological methods, showcasing innovative and scientific approaches to resource recovery in which the reviewed findings will be relevant for industry stakeholders and policymakers.

Graphical abstract