Search Results (272)

In the coming decades, the agricultural system will predictably rely on organic material to produce crops and maintain food security. Currently, the use of inorganic fertilizers to grow crops and vegetables, such as Swiss chard, spinach, and lettuce, is on the rise and has been proven to be detrimental to the soil in the long run. Hence, there is a growing need to use organic waste material, such as spent coffee grounds (SCGs), to grow crops. Spent coffee grounds are made of depleted coffee beans that contain important soluble compounds. This study aimed to determine the influence of different levels (0.32 g, 0.63 g, 0.92 g, and 1.20 g) of spent coffee grounds on the metabolomic profile of Swiss chard. The 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) results showed that Swiss chard grown with different levels of SCGs contains a total of 10 metabolites, which included growth-promoting metabolites (trehalose; betaine), defense mechanism metabolites (alanine; cartinine), energy-reserve metabolites (sucrose; 1,6 Anhydro-β-D-glucose), root metabolites (thymine), stress-related metabolites (2-deoxyadenosine), caffeine metabo-lites (1,3 Dimethylurate), and body-odor metabolites (trimethylamine). Interestingly, caprate, with the abovementioned metabolites, was detected in Swiss chard grown without the application of SCGs. The findings of the current study suggest that SCGs are an ideal organic material for growing Swiss chard for its healthy metabolites. Full article

In recent decades, the rapid expansion of the food processing industry has led to significant losses and waste, with the fruit and vegetable sector among the most affected. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), losses in this category can reach up to 60%. Vegetable waste includes edible parts discarded during processing, packaging, distribution, and consumption, often comprising by-products rich in bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, carotenoids, dietary fibers, vitamins, and enzymes. The underutilization of these resources constitutes both an economic drawback and an environmental and ethical concern. Current recovery practices, including their use in animal feed or bioenergy production, contribute to a circular economy but are often limited by high operational costs. In this context, fermentation has emerged as a promising, sustainable approach for converting vegetable by-products into value-added food ingredients. This process improves digestibility, reduces undesirable compounds, and introduces probiotics beneficial to human health. The present review examines how fermentation can improve the nutritional, sensory, and functional properties of plant-based foods. By presenting several case studies, it illustrates how fermentation can effectively valorize vegetable processing by-products, supporting the development of novel, health-promoting food products with improved technological qualities. Full article

Plant by-products have gained significant attention due to their rich content in bioactive compounds, which exhibit promising antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antitumor properties. In European countries, vegetable waste generation ranged from 35 to 78 kg per capita in 2022, highlighting both the scale of the challenge and the potential for valorization. This review provides an overview of key studies investigating the potential of plant residues in biomedicine, highlighting their possible contents of antioxidant compounds, their antimicrobial and antitumor properties, as well as their applications in dermocosmetics and nutraceuticals. However, despite their potential, several challenges must be addressed, such as the standardization of extraction protocols, as bioactive compound profiles can vary with plant source, processing conditions, and storage methods. Effective segregation and storage protocols for household organic waste also require optimization to ensure the quality and usability of plant by-products in biomedicine. Emerging 4.0 technologies could help to identify suitable plant by-products for biomedicine, streamlining their selection process for high-value applications. Additionally, the transition from in vitro studies to clinical trials is hindered by gaps in the understanding of Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion (ADME) properties, as well as interaction and toxicity profiles. Nonetheless, environmental education and societal participation are crucial to enabling circular bioeconomy strategies and sustainable biomedical innovation. Full article

The loss of hectares of forest areas has become a global issue that has worsened over recent years due to unsustainable human activities. In a context of limited availability of productive land, it is urgent to adopt efficient strategies to recover the affected natural areas. Actions based on a circular economy, such as the use of organic chemical matrices recovered from water waste treatment plant waste, have proven to be effective. In this regard, the addition of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB), such as Bacillus pretiosus and Pseudomonas agronomica, can contribute to the chemical treatment, favoring the recovery of soils, accelerating the recovery of vegetation cover, and inducing an increase in biodiversity. In this research, the effect of bio-fertigation under controlled laboratory conditions in Quercus pyrenaica is evaluated. After a thirty-six-week trial, the biometric and nutritional parameters of the plants were harvested and measured, and the diversity and composition of the metagenomes of their rhizospheres were evaluated. As well, the cenoantibiogram and the metabolic diversity were measured. The results showed that the use of these biofertilizers increased the variables related to plant production, quality of plant composition as an indirect means of their resilience, as well as an increase in rhizospheric microbial diversity and a reduction in their MIC resistance to the most widely used antibiotics. For all these reasons, the use of the biofertilizer result of the combination of WWTP waste, Bacillus pretiosus, and Pseudomonas agronomica is postulated as an environmentally friendly strategy that can contribute to the recovery of potential oak forest areas. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of different types and rates of locally produced organic residues on soil organic matter (SOM) and soil health in highly degraded loamy soils of olive orchards in arid southern Tunisia. Three residues were tested: poultry manure, raw date palm waste, and composted date palm waste mixed with manure. A randomised field trial was conducted over three years. Two years after application, soil samples were analysed for physical and chemical properties, basal respiration, nitrogen mineralisation, microbial biomass, enzyme activities (dehydrogenase, phosphomonoesterase, β-glucosidase, urease, arylsulphatase), and community-level physiological profiles. All residues increased SOM and available phosphorus (Pi), with dose-dependent effects sustained over time, though significant increases were only observed at the highest application rates. The most notable improvements occurred in soils amended with composted date palm waste. In contrast, biological and biochemical parameters showed little response, even after remoistening to stimulate microbial activity. This limited response was attributed to the absence of vegetation and, consequently, of root exudates and plant residues. This will be further investigated by assessing changes in the same biological and biochemical properties following the implementation of an intercropping system, which is expected to enhance both SOM content and microbial activity in these soils. Full article

Environmental concerns drive the search for sustainable organic alternatives in horticultural substrates. This review critically examines three agro-industry renewable byproducts—wood fiber, coffee silverskin, and brewer’s spent grain—as partial peat substitutes. We aimed to comprehensively analyze their origin, processing methods, current applications, and key physical, hydrological, and chemical properties relevant to horticultural use. In soilless culture, wood fiber can be used as a stand-alone substrate. When incorporated at 30–50% (v/v) in peat mixtures, it supports plant growth comparable to peat; however, higher proportions may restrict water and nutrient availability. Coffee silverskin demonstrates high water retention and nutrient content, but its inherent phytotoxicity requires pre-treatment (e.g., co-composting); at concentrations up to 20%, it shows promise for potted ornamental crops. Brewer’s spent grain is nutrient-rich but demands careful management due to its rapid decomposition and potential salinity issues; inclusion rates around 10% have shown beneficial effects. In conclusion, when used appropriately in blends, these bio-based byproducts represent viable alternatives to reduce peat dependence in vegetable and ornamental cultivation, contributing to more sustainable horticultural practices. Future research should optimize pre-treatment methods for coffee silverskin and brewer’s spent grain, investigate long-term stability in diverse cropping systems, and explore novel combinations with other organic waste streams to develop circular horticultural substrates. Full article

Agricultural production in the saline–alkaline soils of the Yellow River Delta faces persistent challenges in waste recycling and soil improvement. We developed a three-stage circular agriculture model integrating “crop straw–edible mushrooms–vegetables,” enabling simultaneous waste utilization and soil remediation within one year (two mushroom and two vegetable cycles annually). Crop straw was first used to cultivate Pleurotus eryngii, achieving 80% biological efficiency and reducing substrate costs by ~36.3%. The spent mushroom substrate (SMS) was then reused for Ganoderma lucidum and vegetable cultivation, maximizing the resource efficiency. SMS application significantly improved soil properties: organic matter increased 11-fold (from 14.8 to 162.78 g/kg) and pH decreased from 8.34 to ~6.75. The available phosphorus and potassium contents increased several-fold compared to untreated soil. Metagenomic analysis showed the enrichment of beneficial decomposer bacteria (Hyphomicrobiales, Burkholderiales, and Streptomyces) and functional genes involved in glyoxylate metabolism, nitrogen cycling, and lignocellulose degradation. These changes shifted the microbial community from a stress-tolerant to a nutrient-cycling profile. The vegetable yield and quality improved markedly: cabbage and cauliflower yields increased by 34–38%, and the tomato lycopene content rose by 179%. Economically, the system generated 1,695,000–1,962,881.4 CNY per hectare annually and reduced fertilizer costs by ~450,000 CNY per hectare. This mushroom–vegetable rotation addresses ecological bottlenecks in saline–alkaline lands through lignin-driven carbon release, organic acid-mediated pH reduction, and actinomycete-dominated decomposition, offering a sustainable agricultural strategy for coastal regions. Full article

Despite the essential role of phosphorus (P) in rice growth, P-use efficiency (PUE) remains low due to limited bioavailable P in soils and an over-reliance on chemical fertilizers, leading to resource waste and environmental risks, such as eutrophication. This study investigates whether and how alternating wetting and moderate drying (AWMD) irrigation promotes P absorption and transport in rice. This study was conducted over two years using a pot experiment. Conventional flooding (CF) irrigation was applied throughout the growing season, while AWMD irrigation was imposed from two weeks after transplanting to one week before harvest. AWMD improved shoot biomass by 8.7–9.4% and the photosynthetic rate by 12–15%, significantly enhanced PUE, and optimized root traits and enzyme activities related to P uptake. It also promoted leaf acid phosphatase and ribonuclease activities, facilitating P remobilization to grains. In conclusion, AWMD enhanced the ability of roots to absorb P and optimized the redistribution of P between vegetative organs and grains, synergistically increasing grain yield and PUE in rice. Full article

Fungi, including filamentous organisms such as yeasts, play essential roles in various processes such as nutrient exchange in ecosystems, the cultivation of mushrooms, and solid-state fermentation (SSF). SSF involves microbial growth on solid substrates without free water, leading to the production of enzymes, bioactive compounds, and biofuels. This fermentation method offers advantages like lower production costs, reduced waste disposal issues, and the efficient utilization of agricultural residues and fruit and vegetable by-products. Filamentous fungi excel in SSF due to their enzyme secretion capacity and ability to produce valuable compounds. The process is influenced by biological, physico-chemical, and environmental factors, requiring careful optimization for optimal results. Fruit and vegetable by-products are increasingly recognized as valuable substrates for SSF, offering rich sources of bioactive compounds and high nutritional value. The optimization of SSF processes, compatibility with various substrates, and potential for producing diverse value-added products make SSF a promising method for sustainable resource utilization and enhanced product development. Future research should focus on improving process efficiency, expanding the substrate range, enhancing product quality and yield, and integrating SSF with other technologies for enhanced production capabilities. Full article

In the face of increasingly complex urban challenges, a critical question arises: can urban ecosystems maintain resilience, vitality, and sustainability when confronted with external threats and pressures? Taking Kunming—a plateau-mountainous city in China—as a case study, this research constructs an urban ecosystem resilience (UER) assessment model based on the DPSIR (Driving forces, Pressures, States, Impacts, and Responses) framework. A total of 25 indicators were selected via questionnaire surveys, covering five dimensions: driving forces such as natural population growth, annual GDP growth, urbanization level, urban population density, and resident consumption price growth; pressures including per capita farmland, per capita urban construction land, land reclamation and cultivation rate, proportion of natural disaster-stricken areas, and unit GDP energy consumption; states measured by Evenness Index (EI), Shannon Diversity Index (SHDI), Aggregation Index (AI), Interspersion and Juxtaposition Index (IJI), Landscape Shape Index (LSI), and Normalized Vegetation Index (NDVI); impacts involving per capita GDP, economic density, per capita disposable income growth, per capita green space area, and per capita water resources; and responses including proportion of natural reserve areas, proportion of environmental protection investment to GDP, overall utilization of industrial solid waste, and afforestation area. Based on remote sensing and other data, indicator values were calculated for 2006, 2011, and 2016. The entire-array polygon indicator method was used to visualize indicator interactions and derive composite resilience index values, all of which remained below 0.25—indicating a persistent low-resilience state, marked by sustained economic growth, frequent natural disasters, and declining ecological self-recovery capacity. Forecasting results suggest that, under current development trajectories, Kunming’s UER will remain low over the next decade. This study is the first to integrate the DPSIR framework, entire-array polygon indicator method, and Grey System Forecasting Model into the evaluation and prediction of urban ecosystem resilience in plateau-mountainous cities. The findings highlight the ecosystem’s inherent capacities for self-organization, adaptation, learning, and innovation and reveal its nested, multi-scalar resilience structure. The DPSIR-based framework not only reflects the complex human–nature interactions in urban systems but also identifies key drivers and enables the prediction of future resilience patterns—providing valuable insights for sustainable urban development. Full article

The development of food waste anaerobic digestion (AD) is a contemporary research topic addressed in the scientific community to meet the requirements of food waste valorization and proper substrate configuration for an efficient AD process. In this study, multiple AD experiments were performed on food waste together with industrial inoculum using laboratory-scale bioreactors. Food waste consisted mainly of fruits and vegetables (80.9%) and boiled rice (19.1%). The effect of operating temperature (33 °C, 37 °C, 41 °C, 45 °C) and the ratio between food waste mixture and inoculum-FIR (1:1, 3:2 and 2:1, w/w) on the production and composition of biogas, and the conversion yield for CH₄ and organic carbon, were investigated. The best results were obtained at an FIR of 2:1 and a temperature of 37 °C, with a total biogas production of 468.59 NL h⁻¹ kg⁻¹_VSadded (51% v/v CH₄ conc.) and a conversion yield of 36.42% for CH₄. A modified Gompertz model was applied on the accumulated CH₄ and biogas to evaluate the process performance. The model parameters were investigated in conjunction with the physico-chemical characteristics of the substrate, inoculum taxonomic profile, pH measurements, and TG-DTA analysis. The conducted analyses emphasized the susceptibility of the selected substrate towards easy degradation and improved biotransformation reactions when temperature and FIR were increased. Full article

In recent years, the development of nutritionally enhanced foods with reduced environmental impact has gained significant importance. This study aimed to produce four types of tomato sauces: traditional, whole (including peels and seeds), traditional with added vegetables, and whole with added vegetables. The vegetables included in the latter two variations were pumpkin, carrot, basil, and oregano. The sauces were analyzed for various parameters, such as soluble solids content, viscosity, pH, reducing sugars, titratable acidity, color, sodium, calcium, potassium, magnesium content, total polyphenols, lycopene, beta-carotene, antioxidant activity, dietary fiber content, vitamin C, and volatile organic compounds. Results showed that whole tomato sauces had up to 80% more polyphenols (270.40 vs. 150.30 mg GAE/kg f.w.) and 30% higher DPPH antioxidant activity (87.07 vs. 66.96 µmol TE/100 g) compared to traditional sauces. Vegetable enrichment, particularly with pumpkin and carrot, significantly increased β-carotene levels (up to 68.67 mg/kg f.w.). Incorporating peels and seeds boosted the bioactive components, and adding vegetables provided an additional nutritional benefit. These findings highlight how waste recovery can contribute to the development of products with enhanced health benefits, offering a sustainable approach to food production. Full article

While integrated practices are used in organic vegetable production for soil fertility management, their impacts on short- and long-term soil health across diverse cropping systems and environments need to be better understood, especially in sandy soils. In this two-year study (2022–2023 and 2023–2024) conducted on certified organic land, a suite of soil physical, chemical, and biological properties at the end of each organic celery (Apium graveolens L. var. dulce) production season were analyzed, with one set of field experiments assessing the influence of preplant organic fertilizers and the other set examining the effects of composts and sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.) as a rotational cover crop before celery planting. Compared to feather meal-based organic fertilizer, the poultry litter-based organic fertilizer enhanced soil K and Mg base saturation, promoted micronutrient availability, and increased the overall soil fertility score. Sunn hemp cover cropping impacted soil N dynamics, and both yard waste compost and vermicompost increased the overall soil health score by over 4.0% compared to the no compost control, with yard waste compost resulting in the highest level of soil active C (10.8% higher than the control). Seasonal variations were observed in many soil parameters measured, along with marked interactions among nutrient management practices and production seasons. This study highlights the complexity of soil health assessments and improvement for sandy soils with low water and nutrient retention, and the importance of long-term, systematic studies under organic crop production. Full article

Every year, around 1.3 billion tons of food is wasted globally, with fruits and vegetables making up a significant portion. One by-product of this waste is pomace—the solid remains after juice extraction—which is rich in valuable nutrients like fiber, polyphenols, flavonoids, carotenoids, organic acids, vitamins, and minerals. Common sources of pomace are apples, grapes, citrus fruits, and berries. Researchers have highlighted its potential use in the confectionery industry. For example, replacing flour with pomace in cookies can improve antioxidant content and reduce hardness. Adding grape pomace to gummy candies increases levels of anthocyanins, flavanols, and proanthocyanidins while enhancing texture. Fortifying waffles with raspberry pomace boosts their nutritional value and may inhibit enzymes linked to free radical production. As a functional ingredient, pomace could help lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, and colon cancer. Using fruit waste in food production supports sustainability by reducing waste and improving nutrition. Public awareness efforts, such as the NRDC’s Save the Food campaign, underscore the importance of repurposing food waste. Investing in functional confectionery made with pomace offers both health and environmental benefits, making it a key ingredient for sustainable food innovation. However, despite increasing attention to functional foods, the potential of fruit pomace specifically in confectionery has not been reviewed comprehensively. This review aims to fill this gap, providing a focused synthesis on the use of fruit pomace in the confectionery industry, identifying research trends, challenges, and practical applications. Full article

The growing challenges of freshwater scarcity and the high generation of agro-industrial waste, particularly from fruit and vegetable (F&V) processing, pose significant threats to the sustainability of global food systems. F&V waste, which represents a major portion of the 1.3 billion tons of annual food waste, is characterized by a high moisture content (80–95%), making it a largely overlooked but promising source of water recovery. This review critically assesses the techno-economic and environmental feasibility of extracting water from moisture-rich agro-industrial waste streams. Potential technologies such as solar distillation and membrane separation are evaluated to determine their capacity to treat complex organic effluents and recover high-quality water. The potential end uses of reclaimed water in all sectors are explored, focusing on agricultural irrigation, fertigation, industrial reuse and environmental restoration. This study addresses a key research gap and proposes the reclassification of agro-industrial waste as a viable water resource aligned with circular bioeconomy principles and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 6 and 12. Full article