Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 3 — Observational / field trialPeer-reviewed

Using green waste as substrate to produce biostimulant and biopesticide products through solid-state fermentation

Golafarin Ghoreishi, Raquel Barrena, Xavier Font

Waste Management · 2023

Read source ↗ All evidence

Summary

This laboratory study demonstrates the optimisation of solid-state fermentation parameters to valorise green waste into dual-function biostimulant and biopesticide products. Using response surface methodology, the authors identified substrate composition trade-offs: higher tryptophan and grass content favoured IAA production whilst lower levels favoured spore formation. The optimised conditions (0.45% tryptophan, 61% grass, 74% moisture) suggest a practical pathway for converting landscape and garden waste into value-added biological inputs, though the study does not report field validation or agronomic efficacy.

UK applicability

Given the UK's substantial green waste stream from horticulture and landscaping, this approach could support circular economy principles in agricultural input production. However, field-scale validation of the biostimulant and biopesticide efficacy under UK growing conditions would be required before practical adoption.

Key measures

Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) concentration, microbial spore count, substrate composition (tryptophan percentage, grass percentage, moisture content), fermentation duration (days)

Outcomes reported

The study optimised substrate formulation and fermentation duration to produce indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and microbial spores concurrently from green waste. Maximum IAA production occurred at day 3 whilst maximum spore production occurred at day 7, with identified trade-offs between the two outputs across different substrate compositions.

Theme
Farming systems, soils & land use
Subject
Soil biology & microbiology
Study type
Research
Study design
Laboratory experimental study with response surface methodology optimisation
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
Europe
System type
Laboratory / in vitro
DOI
10.1016/j.wasman.2023.01.026
Catalogue ID
SNmov0fmra-m881jd

Topic tags

Pulse AI · ask about this record

Dig deeper with Pulse AI.

Pulse AI has read the whole catalogue. Ask about this record, its theme, or how the findings apply to UK farming and policy — every answer cites the underlying studies.