Shawky Eman, Gibbons Simon, Selim Dina A
Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alkhartoom Square, Alexandria 21521, Egypt.
Natural & Medical Sciences Research Centre, University of Nizwa, Nizwa, Oman.
Bioresour Technol. 2025 Sep;431:132640. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132640. Epub 2025 May 7.
Agri-Food Waste (AFW) valorization represents a transformative approach to addressing global sustainability challenges by converting underutilized biomass into high-value bioactive compounds. This review offers a comprehensive examination of AFW streams-ranging from agricultural residues and post-harvest losses to food processing by-products-highlighting their composition, bioactive molecule content, and their untapped potential in various industrial applications. Special attention is given to the classification and health-promoting properties of key bioactives including polyphenols, carotenoids, dietary fibers, bioactive peptides, and lipids, emphasizing their roles in human nutrition, disease prevention, and functional product development. A critical evaluation of state-of-the-art extraction and recovery technologies is presented, covering solvent extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, enzyme-assisted extraction, solid-state fermentation, pressurized liquid extraction, supercritical fluid extraction, and the use of green solvents such as deep eutectic solvents (DES). The review further discusses the integration of these technologies into scalable, sustainable valorization pathways. Applications of waste-derived bioactives in the development of functional foods, beverages, dietary supplements, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals are explored, along with the associated challenges including technical constraints, regulatory hurdles, and bioavailability issues. Emerging frameworks such as microalgae-based biorefineries are discussed for their potential in closed-loop circular economies. The manuscript also analyzes the environmental, economic, and societal implications of AFW valorization, offering insights into policy frameworks, life cycle assessments, market opportunities, and the role of innovation and cross-sector collaboration in promoting circular bioeconomy models. Ultimately, this review underscores the importance of AFW valorization as a pivotal strategy for sustainable development, resource efficiency, and the reduction of ecological footprints in the agri-food sector.
农业食品废弃物（AFW）的增值利用是一种变革性方法，通过将未充分利用的生物质转化为高价值生物活性化合物来应对全球可持续发展挑战。本综述全面考察了AFW流——从农业残留物、收获后损失到食品加工副产品——突出了它们的组成、生物活性分子含量以及在各种工业应用中的未开发潜力。特别关注了关键生物活性物质的分类和促进健康的特性，包括多酚、类胡萝卜素、膳食纤维、生物活性肽和脂质，强调了它们在人类营养、疾病预防和功能性产品开发中的作用。对最先进的提取和回收技术进行了批判性评估，涵盖溶剂萃取、微波辅助萃取、酶辅助萃取、固态发酵、加压液体萃取、超临界流体萃取以及使用深共熔溶剂（DES）等绿色溶剂。该综述进一步讨论了将这些技术整合到可扩展的、可持续的增值利用途径中。探讨了废弃物衍生生物活性物质在功能性食品、饮料、膳食补充剂、化妆品和药品开发中的应用，以及相关挑战，包括技术限制、监管障碍和生物利用度问题。讨论了基于微藻的生物精炼厂等新兴框架在闭环循环经济中的潜力。本文还分析了AFW增值利用对环境、经济和社会的影响，深入探讨了政策框架、生命周期评估、市场机会以及创新和跨部门合作在促进循环生物经济模式中的作用。最终，本综述强调了AFW增值利用作为农业食品部门可持续发展、资源效率和减少生态足迹的关键战略的重要性。
