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Agronomy
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Advances in Biotransformation of Agricultural Waste: Opportunities and Challenges
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Advances in Biotransformation of Agricultural Waste: Opportunities and Challenges

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Innovative Cropping Systems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2025) | Viewed by 6497

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Yoong Kit Leong

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, College of Engineering, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan
Interests: circular economy; biofuel; algal biotechnology; waste valorization; life-cycle assessment; zero carbon emission technology; biorefinery
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Eunsung Kan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Texas A&M AgriLife Research Center, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Texas A&M University, 400 Bizzell St, College Station, TX 77843, USA
Interests: food–energy–water nexus; environmental and agricultural sustainability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The biotransformation of agricultural waste presents promising opportunities for sustainable waste management and resource utilization. Through biotransformation processes facilitated by enzymes, microbial degradation, and fermentation, this waste can be converted into valuable products such as biofuels, biopolymers, and biochemicals. Bioprocessing techniques, including anaerobic digestion and biorefinery, play pivotal roles in extracting energy and nutrients from agricultural residues. However, challenges such as the optimization of bioprocessing conditions, identification of suitable biocatalysts, and economic viability persist. Additionally, the establishment of integrated biorefinery systems is essential for maximizing resource utilization and minimizing environmental impact. The successful biotransformation of agricultural waste not only reduces environmental pollution but also contributes to the development of a circular economy by converting waste into valuable resources. Collaborative efforts in research and development are needed to overcome these challenges and realize the full potential of biotransformation in transforming agricultural waste into sustainable solutions for energy production, environmental remediation, and the development of bio-based products. In this Special Issue, we aim to gather high-quality research outcomes on the advances in and applications of the biotransformation of agricultural waste. Specifically, the Special Issue will cover (but is not limited to) the following topics:

  • Innovative and novel agricultural waste biotransformation processes, technologies, and systems;     
  • Design and process modeling of agricultural waste biotransformation;
  • Life cycle assessment and techno-economic analysis of biotransformation of agricultural waste.

Dr. Yoong Kit Leong
Dr. Eunsung Kan
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agronomy is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • renewable resources
  • biotransformation
  • value-added products
  • anaerobic digestion
  • biorefinery
  • waste-to-energy
  • sustainable agriculture
  • waste reduction
  • circular economy
  • life cycle assessment

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 1879 KiB  
Article
Efficient Hydrolysis of Sugar Beet Pulp Using Novel Enzyme Complexes
by Maria I. Komarova, Margarita V. Semenova, Pavel V. Volkov, Igor A. Shashkov, Alexandra M. Rozhkova, Ivan N. Zorov, Sergei A. Kurzeev, Aidar D. Satrutdinov, Ekaterina A. Rubtsova and Arkady P. Sinitsyn
Agronomy 2025, 15(1), 101; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15010101 - 1 Jan 2025
Viewed by 749
Abstract
Sugar beet pulp is a byproduct of white sugar production, and it is quite significant in terms of volume. Every year, tens of millions of tons of beet pulp are produced around the world. However, only a fraction of it is currently used, [...] Read more.
Sugar beet pulp is a byproduct of white sugar production, and it is quite significant in terms of volume. Every year, tens of millions of tons of beet pulp are produced around the world. However, only a fraction of it is currently used, mainly as animal feed. The composition of beet pulp includes plant polysaccharides, such as cellulose, arabinan, and pectin. Through the process of enzymatic hydrolysis, these polysaccharides are converted into technical C6/C5 sugars, which can be further used as a substrate for the microbial synthesis of various substances, including biofuels, organic acids, and other green chemistry molecules. The current study was designed with a primary objective that focused on the development of a strain that had the potential for enhanced productivity and the capacity to produce enzymes suitable for beet pulp hydrolysis. The pelA and abfA genes, which encode pectin lyase and arabinofuranosidase, respectively, in the fungus Penicillium canescens (VKPM F-178), were cloned and successfully expressed in the recipient strain Penicillium verruculosum B1-537 (VKPM F-3972D). New recombinant strains were created using the expression system of the mycelial fungus P. verruculosum B1-537, which is capable of simultaneously producing pectin lyase and arabinofuranosidase, as well as homologous cellulases. The screening of strains for increased enzymatic activity towards citrus pectin, sugar beet branched arabinan, and microcrystalline cellulose revealed that a B4 clone of P. verruculosum exhibited the greatest potential in sugar beet pulp cake hydrolysis. This clone was selected as the basis for the creation of a new enzyme preparation with enhanced pectin lyase, arabinase, and cellulase activities. The component composition of the enzyme preparation was determined, and the results indicated that the enzyme content comprised approximately 11% pectin lyase, 40% arabinofuranosidase, and 40% cellulases. The primary products of the enzymatic hydrolysis of the unpretreated beet pulp cake were arabinose and glucose. The degree of arabinan and cellulose conversion was observed to be up to 50% and 80%, respectively, after a period of 48 to 72 h of hydrolysis. The new B4 preparation was observed to be highly efficacious in the hydrolysis of beet cake at elevated concentrations of solids (up to 300 g/L) within the reaction mixture. The newly developed strain, as a producer of pectin lyase, arabinofuranosidase, and cellulase complexes, has the potential to be utilized for the bioconversion of sugar beet processing wastes and for the efficient generation of highly concentrated solutions of technical sugars for further implementation in processes of microbial synthesis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Biotransformation of Agricultural Waste: Opportunities and Challenges)
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14 pages, 471 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Biochemical Methane Potential and Kinetics of Organic Waste Streams for Enhanced Biogas Production
by Rodolfo Llanos-Lizcano, Lacrimioara Senila and Oana Cristina Modoi
Agronomy 2024, 14(11), 2546; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14112546 - 29 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1906
Abstract
Organic waste has the potential to produce methane gas as a substitute for petrol-based fuels, while reducing landfilling and possible environmental pollution. Generally, anaerobic digestion (AD) is used only in wastewater treatment plants as a tertiary stage of sewage sludge treatment, generating a [...] Read more.
Organic waste has the potential to produce methane gas as a substitute for petrol-based fuels, while reducing landfilling and possible environmental pollution. Generally, anaerobic digestion (AD) is used only in wastewater treatment plants as a tertiary stage of sewage sludge treatment, generating a fraction of the energy that such process plants require. In this study, four different wastes—food waste (FW), dairy industry waste (DIW), brewery waste (BW), and cardboard waste (CBW)—were tested for biogas production. The biochemical methane potential (BMP) of each sample was evaluated using an automatic methane potential system (AMPTS). Operating parameters such as pH, temperature, total solids, and volatile solids were measured. Experiments on the anaerobic digestion of the samples were monitored under mesophilic conditions (temperature 37 °C, retention time 30 days). Specific methane yields (SMYs), as well as the theoretical methane potential (BMPth), were used to calculate the biodegradability of the substrates, obtaining the highest biodegradability for BW at 95.1% and producing 462.3 ± 1.25 NmL CH4/g volatile solids (VS), followed by FW at an inoculum-to-substrate ratio (ISR) of 2 at 84% generating 391.3 NmLCH4/g VS. The BMP test of the dairy industry waste at an inoculum-to-substrate ratio of 1 was heavily inhibited by bacteria overloading of the easily degradable organic matter, obtaining a total methane production of 106.3 NmL CH4/g VS and a biodegradability index of 24.8%. The kinetic modeling study demonstrated that the best-fitting model was the modified Gompertz model, presenting the highest coefficient of determination (R2) values, the lowest root means square error (RMSE) values for five of the substrates, and the best specific biogas yield estimation with a percentage difference ranging from 0.3 to 3.6%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Biotransformation of Agricultural Waste: Opportunities and Challenges)
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17 pages, 1399 KiB  
Article
Wood- and Manure-Derived Biochars Reduce Antibiotic Residues and Shift Antibiotic Resistance Genes and Microbial Communities in Manure Applied Forage–Soil Systems
by Gyucheol Choi, Jeff A. Brady, Olabiyi Obayomi, Emily Green, Caroly Leija, Kristin Sefcik, Daisy A. Gonzalez, Cosette B. Taggart, James P. Muir and Eunsung Kan
Agronomy 2024, 14(9), 2100; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14092100 - 15 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1844
Abstract
The increasing use of antibiotics in livestock poses environmental risks, leading to contamination of agricultural soils and propagation of microbial antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs). This study examined the impacts of wood- and manure-derived biochar (BC) on antibiotic residues, ARGs, and microbial communities in sandy [...] Read more.
The increasing use of antibiotics in livestock poses environmental risks, leading to contamination of agricultural soils and propagation of microbial antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs). This study examined the impacts of wood- and manure-derived biochar (BC) on antibiotic residues, ARGs, and microbial communities in sandy loam and clay loam soils amended with manure in Cynodon dactylon pastures. We hypothesized that BC amendments would influence the degradation of antibiotics and the structure of microbial communities based on their physicochemical properties and soil types. Our results demonstrated that wood BC reduced the concentrations of tetracycline and sulfonamides, particularly in sandy loam soil, due to its larger surface area and hydrophobic properties. In contrast, manure BC provided additional nutrients and supported atmospheric nitrogen-fixing microbial groups, especially in clay loam soil, while exhibiting variable efficiency in reducing antibiotic residues due to its lower surface area and higher ash content. These findings underscore the differential impacts of each BC type, emphasizing the need for tailored BC applications based on soil type to effectively mitigate antibiotic contamination and promote sustainable agricultural practices. In conclusion, wood BC was more effective in enhancing soil health by reducing antibiotic residues and improving microbial diversity, particularly in sandy loam soils, while manure BC was beneficial for nutrient cycling in clay loam soils. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Biotransformation of Agricultural Waste: Opportunities and Challenges)
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45 pages, 1708 KiB  
Review
The Role of Ligninolytic Enzymes in Sustainable Agriculture: Applications and Challenges
by Agnieszka Gałązka, Urszula Jankiewicz and Sławomir Orzechowski
Agronomy 2025, 15(2), 451; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15020451 - 12 Feb 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1391
Abstract
The most important ligninolytic enzymes in lignin degradation include laccases and peroxidases (lignin peroxidase, manganese peroxidase, versatile peroxidase). White-rot fungi (e.g., Cerrena sp., Phlebia sp. or Trametes sp.) are their main source in nature. The ability of ligninolytic enzymes to degrade both phenolic [...] Read more.
The most important ligninolytic enzymes in lignin degradation include laccases and peroxidases (lignin peroxidase, manganese peroxidase, versatile peroxidase). White-rot fungi (e.g., Cerrena sp., Phlebia sp. or Trametes sp.) are their main source in nature. The ability of ligninolytic enzymes to degrade both phenolic and non-phenolic compounds has found its application in sustainable agriculture. In recent years, ligninolytic enzymes’ important role has been demonstrated in the biodegradation of lignin, a poorly degradable component of plant biomass, and in removing hazardous environmental pollutants that threaten human health. These enzymes can be successfully used in waste management, composting, improving soil health and fertility, or bioremediation. The challenges of applying lignin-degrading enzymes such as laccases and peroxidases include their stability and resistance to harsh conditions. Still, the rapid development of biotechnological technologies offers the tools to overcome them. Applying biological solutions in agricultural systems involving microorganisms and their metabolic products will significantly reduce the environmental impact and develop a circular economy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Biotransformation of Agricultural Waste: Opportunities and Challenges)
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