Valorization of Agro-Industrial Waste into Value-Added Nutraceuticals for Sustainable Development

Agro-industrial waste poses a major environmental and economic problem worldwide and is associated with the emission of gases which are responsible for greenhouse emissions. There is large amount of agro-industrial waste produced throughout the food production chain. The waste if not managed could negatively impact the environment, business, and diet of the people. This agriculture waste contains large valuable bioactive compounds called nutraceuticals that can be used in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. Agro-industrial waste, especially from the food industry, consists of large amounts of organic matter with high nutritional value and high levels of BOD, COD, and TSS. As the focus has been shifted towards more environmental and sustainable alternatives, the extraction of bioactive compounds has become a major development area. Although many countries have implemented policies to reduce food waste, there are various bioproducts and active molecules which are produced using valorization techniques. Unlike non-biological processes, the biological processes yield higher quality of bioactive compounds with minimal environmental impact and toxicity. Enzymatic treatment and/or fermentation of agriculture waste generate bioactive compounds from agriculture waste. Various nanotechnological and biotechnological approaches have recently been used as novel and environmentally friendly applications to upgrade agrifood wastes and improve their applicability and stability. This chapter spotlights the different types of agricultural waste and sustainable method for extracting bioactive compounds from this agricultural waste. In addition, the current application of the nutraceutical as micro- and nano-encapsulation has been described. The limitations and problems of valorization techniques and waste management are investigated.