Food waste-based bio-fertilizers production by bio-based fermenters and their potential impact on the environment

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) 2024-04, Vol.353, p.141539-141539, Article 141539
• Main Authors: Mandal, Mamun, Roy, Anamika, Das, Sujit, Rakwal, Randeep, Agrawal, Ganesh Kumar, Singh, Pardeep, Awasthi, Amit, Sarkar, Abhijit
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agriculture; Bio-fertilizer; biodegradability; biofertilizers; environmental impact; environmental sustainability; Fertilizers; Food; Food Loss and Waste; food security; Food waste; human health; Humans; Management strategies; metabolism; Microbial degradation; municipal solid waste; Negative impacts; organic matter; Refuse Disposal; Soil; soil fertility
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141539

Increasing food waste is creating a global waste (and management) crisis. Globally, ∼1.6 billion tons of food is wasted annually, worth ∼$1.2 trillion. By reducing this waste or by turning it into valuable products, numerous economic advantages can be realized, including improved food security, lower production costs, biodegradable products, environmental sustainability, and cleaner solutions to the growing world's waste and garbage management. The appropriate handling of these detrimental materials can significantly reduce the risks to human health. Food waste is available in biodegradable forms and, with the potential to speed up microbial metabolism effectively, has immense potential in improving bio-based fertilizer generation. Synthetic inorganic fertilizers severely affect human health, the environment, and soil fertility, thus requiring immediate consideration. To address these problems, agricultural farming is moving towards manufacturing bio-based fertilizers via utilizing natural bioresources. Food waste-based bio-fertilizers could help increase yields, nutrients, and organic matter and mitigate synthetic fertilizers' adverse effects. These are presented and discussed in the review. [Display omitted] •Impact and re-think of the global food waste in view of the SDGs.•Food waste management strategies and their consequences.•Implications of food waste-based bio-fertilizers for sustainable agri-management.•Recycling of food waste to value added product through microbial digestion.