Potential applications of fruit and vegetable wastes for generation of by-products

Organic waste is produced wherever there is human habitation. The main sources of organic wastes are household food waste, industrial waste and agricultural waste. The word ‘waste’ is often an inappropriate term for organic matter, which is often put to good use. The economy of most countries dictates that materials and resources must be used to their full potential, and this has propagated a culture of reuse, repair and recycling. The waste consists of wash water, skins, rinds, pulp, and other organic waste from fruit and vegetable cleaning, processing, cooking and canning in the juice producing industry. The huge quantity of fruit and vegetable wastes and by-products produced throughout the world, both in the organized and un-organized sectors, can be effectively utilized as livestock feed. These resources, i.e. peels, pomace and seeds etc. are rich sources of bioactive compounds, which can be extracted and utilized in food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and biofuel industries. Some of such novel value-added products and their utilities are discussed in this paper such as essential oils, polyphenolic compounds, edible oils, pigments, food additives, anticarcinogenic compounds, dietary fibre, enzymes, bio-ethanol, methane mitigation potential, bio-gas,single cell protein, fermented edible products, compost, bio-degradable plastic and miscellaneous products.

Keywords:

fruit and vegetable wastes , fruit waste byproducts , fruit wastes application