Food Waste Valorization: Implication in Circular Economy Paradigm

Food waste valorization plays a pivotal role in advancing the circular economy paradigm by transforming agricultural and food processing residues into valuable CNMs. This approach addresses critical global challenges, including resource scarcity, environmental pollution, and unsustainable waste management practices. Thermochemical processes such as pyrolysis and gasification, along with biochemical conversion techniques, enable the transformation of biomass-derived waste into high-value CNMs including graphene, carbon dots, and CNTs. These materials have demonstrated potential applications in food packaging, precision agriculture, environmental remediation, and renewable energy systems. The synthesis of these insights provides a comprehensive roadmap for researchers, industries, and policymakers to harness waste valorization as a cornerstone of circular bioeconomy transitions while balancing ecological, economic, and technological considerations.