Summary
This narrative review addresses the valorisation of agrifood by-products generated during post-harvest handling and food processing as a route to advancing sustainability and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. It synthesises current knowledge on extraction and characterisation of bioactive compounds (phenolics, peptides, carotenoids, fibres, minerals, vitamins) from residues such as shells, skins, and seeds, and their potential applications in food, pharmaceutical, packaging, and cosmetic industries. The authors argue that scaling by-product valorisation can improve food security and economic sustainability whilst reducing the 8–10% of global greenhouse gas emissions attributable to food waste.
Regional applicability
The findings and approaches described are globally applicable and relevant to United Kingdom food supply chain policy and practice, particularly given UK commitments to waste reduction and the circular economy. However, implementation will depend on local infrastructure for processing, regulatory frameworks, and market development for valorised products.
Key measures
Quantities of food waste (1.3 billion tonnes annually globally; 30–50% of raw materials as by-products); greenhouse gas contribution (8–10% of global emissions); bioactive compound types (phenolics, peptides, carotenoids, fibres, secondary metabolites, minerals, amino acids, vitamins); SDG alignment metrics
Outcomes reported
This review synthesises evidence on extraction methods, characterisation, and potential applications of bioactive compounds recovered from agrifood by-products (shells, skins, pulp, stems, seeds) across food, pharmaceutical, packaging, and cosmetic sectors. It examines linkages between by-product valorisation and six Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 2, 3, 7, 8, 12, 13).
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