Value-Added Applications of Agricultural Byproducts: Bioactive Components and Sustainable Processing

Dear Colleagues,

The sustainable utilization of agricultural by-products has become a key strategy to advance the circular bioeconomy and mitigate environmental impacts. These agro-industrial side streams, often discarded or underexploited, are valuable sources of bioactive ingredients such as phenolic compounds, polysaccharides, proteins, fibers and lipids that can contribute to improving the quality, functionality and safety of agricultural and agri-food systems. Recent advances in green extraction and biorefinery concepts have opened new opportunities for obtaining these bioactive components through eco-efficient processing routes aligned with sustainable agricultural production. In addition, emerging strategies such as the nanoencapsulation of agro-based bioactives are increasingly being explored as tools to enhance post-harvest preservation and maintain product quality.

This Special Issue aims to gather interdisciplinary studies focused on the recovery, purification, characterization and application of bioactive ingredients derived from agricultural by-products, with emphasis on value-added uses that enhance agricultural product quality, shelf life and safety.

Topics of interest include but are not limited to:

• Green and sustainable extraction or fractionation techniques for agro-residues
• Structural and functional characterization of bioactive ingredients of agricultural origin
• Natural antioxidants, antimicrobial agents and their role in agricultural product quality and safety
• Post-harvest valorization strategies for agricultural by-products
• Circular bioeconomy approaches and sustainability metrics in agro-industrial chains
• Nanoencapsulation and delivery systems of bioactive components for post-harvest preservation and quality

We welcome original research articles, reviews and perspectives.

Dr. Anna Paula Azevedo De Carvalho
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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