From Waste to Product: End-Use-Oriented Valorization of Plant-Based Agro-Industrial Residues Through Analytical Approaches
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Plant Sciences".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 26 February 2027
Special Issue Editors
Interests: transcriptomics; proteomics; metabolomics; microscopy; plant molecular biology; plant biochemistry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: biochemistry; circular bioeconomy; rare diseases; system biology; bioinformatics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The increasing demand for sustainable resources and circular economy strategies has intensified interest in the valorization of plant-derived agro-industrial waste. These underexploited residues represent a valuable reservoir of bioactive compounds, biomaterials, and functional ingredients that can be transformed into high-value products across the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and agricultural sectors.
In this context, the challenge is shifting from waste management to waste-to-product approaches, where the intended end use guides the entire valorization process. The integration of -omic technologies, in combination with advanced material characterization, enables not only comprehensive profiling of plant by-products but also the targeted identification of compounds, structures, and pathways relevant to specific applications. For example, metabolomics-driven profiling of tomato peels can guide the selective extraction of stable carotenoids for nutraceuticals or antioxidant compounds for cosmetics, while multi-omic approaches applied to grape pomace can support the selection and transformation of phenolics for use as natural food preservatives. In the case of spent coffee grounds, integrated -omic and compositional-structural analyses can direct the recovery of antioxidants, lipids, and polysaccharides towards applications ranging from functional food ingredients to bioplastics and cosmetic formulations. Similarly, the combined use of -omics and material characterization of lignocellulosic residues, such as nut shells, can reveal structure-function relationships that guide their valorization into biochar, activated carbons, or functional fillers for biocomposites, depending on the targeted end use.
This Special Issue aims to highlight recent advances in the conversion of plant-based waste into value-added products, with particular emphasis on the integration of -omic technologies and material characterization in relation to the final application. Contributions should demonstrate how these approaches support decision-making along the value chain. from raw material selection and functional characterization to process optimization and product development, thereby enhancing sustainability, efficiency, and economic viability.
We welcome original research articles, reviews, and methodology-focused contributions addressing innovative strategies for agro-waste valorization towards defined end uses.
Dr. Roberto Berni
Dr. Alfonso Trezza
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- waste-to-product
- agro-industrial waste
- plant by-products
- -omics
- material characterization
- structure-function relationships
- bioactive compounds
- lignocellulosic biomass
- biorefinery
- green extraction technologies
- circular economy
- functional ingredients
- biomaterials
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