Abstract
Food waste is a global concern, with significant quantities of edible food being discarded every day. However, innovative conversion technologies have emerged to effectively transform this waste into valuable animal feed. This review paper provides a comprehensive examination of the conversion technologies used to transform food waste into animal feed, along with an analysis of the environmental benefits associated with these processes. The paper delves into various conversion methods such as anaerobic digestion, insect-based conversion, and microbial fermentation along with exploring their mechanisms and suitability for converting food waste into valuable animal feed resources. Additionally, the environmental benefits, including waste reduction, greenhouse gas emission reduction, and resource conservation, are discussed in detail. The review highlights the potential of these technologies to address the pressing issue of food waste while contributing to a more sustainable and resource-efficient food system. The findings of this review emphasize the importance of adopting and further developing these conversion technologies as a means to mitigate environmental impacts, promote circular economy principles, and enhance the overall sustainability of the food and agriculture sector.
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The authors are especially thankful to Ms. Kashish Azeem for helping in revising the manuscript critically for important intellectual content. The authors are also thankful to Mr. Junaid Khan for helping with language editing.
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The Indian Council for Medical Research awarded the Senior Research fellowship [Sanction No. Myco/Fell./2/2020-ECD-II] to Ziaul Hasan.
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Ziaul Hasan had the idea for the review. Ziaul Hasan and Muneera Lateef performed the literature review and data analysis and drafted the review manuscript. All authors critically revised and approved the final version of the manuscript.
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Hasan, Z., Lateef, M. Transforming food waste into animal feeds: an in-depth overview of conversion technologies and environmental benefits. Environ Sci Pollut Res 31, 17951–17963 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-30152-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-30152-0