Yams and Aroid Crop Waste: Bio Valorization into Bioproducts and Platform Chemicals

With the increase in the production of good products, there is an increase in crop wastes and byproducts that either end up in landfills or lead to environmental pollution due to poor compost management. This statement is a better fit for the horticultural tuber crops that usually have thick non-edible skin which is removed before their utilization to produce food products. To reduce the burden from these food wastes and increase their stability and applicability, their bio valorization into bioproducts and platform chemicals has become very crucial. Several research studies explored nano and biotechnological approaches as novel and green applications to valorize tuber crop waste to produce platform chemicals to produce biofuel, biopolymer, functional food additives, energy storage material, wastewater treatment, etc. In this chapter, recent research and their findings are covered in detail with interest in the bio valorization of yam and aroid tuber waste. In addition, the problems and limitations of waste management and valorization methods are investigated, considering future perspectives.