Sustainable Management of Agri-food Waste Valorisation: Current Status

2Agri-food processing is comprised of a large number of complex processes, generates a huge amount of agri-food wastes (AFWs) globally, after processing, transportation, storage, and consumption. Globally, one-third of total food produced for human consumption is going as waste with different reasons which imbalance the socio-economy and environment, which requires an immediate measure. Many conventional and innovative emerging techniques are coordinated in the process of AFW valorisation. Some are fundamental with very low environmental value, which include the animal feeding, anaerobic digestion, composting, incineration, land spreading, and filling. These processes do not require scientific knowledge and innovation. The agricultural and food residues can be used in the process of land filling, improves the fertility of soil, and reduces the requirement of artificial fertilisers’ utilisation, which is having direct and indirect benefits to the customer. This poses serious environmental problems which occupies land and requires expenditure for the treatment of resources. Smart waste valorisation techniques such as solvent extraction, ultrasound assisted extraction, high hydrostatic pressure, pressurised fluids, and nanotechnology have been discussed in this chapter to extract different nutraceutical compounds. Global increase in the population needs to utilise AFW to extract different bioactive components which are having many commercial applications. These innovative valorisation technologies help in the development of food safety, nutritional security, and environmental balance.