Food production and processing in developing countries generate high levels of waste and byproducts, causing a negative environmental impact and significant expenses. However, these biomaterials have ample potential for generating food additives which in turn will minimize malnutrition and hunger in the developing countries where it is produced. Many of these biomaterials are a source of valuable compounds such as proteins, lipids, starch, micronutrients, bioactive compounds, and dietary fibers. Additionally, antinutritional factors present in some byproducts can be minimized through biotechnological processes for use as a food additive or in the formulation of balanced foods. In this context, the use of these biomaterials is a challenge and provides great opportunity to improve food security. The purpose of this review is to project the potential of food waste and byproducts as a sustainable alternative to reduce malnutrition and hunger in developing countries.

Fruit waste and by-products are economical materials for the development of biodegradable and active packaging. The aims of this study were to develop, characterize and evaluate biodegradable coatings and films by using mango peel and antioxidant extracts of seed kernel. The proximate composition of peel was also determined. Structural, barrier, optical and antioxidant properties were analyzed in the films. Gas transfer rates and the ethylene production in peach were evaluated. Edible films formulated with mango peel showed good barrier properties, with the water vapor permeability varying from 0.88 × 10 −10-1.00 × 10 −10 g m −1 s −1 Pa −1. The addition of antioxidant extract does not show a significant effect (p > 0.05) on optical properties. Furthermore, antioxidant activity and polyphenol content increased by 18% and 60% respectively. Peach coated with a solution of mango peel (1.09%), antioxidant extract of mango seed kernel (0.078 g L −1) and glycerol (0.33%) showed 64% and 29% less ethylene and CO 2 production, respectively, and 39% less O 2 consumption when compared with peaches without coating. The reduction in gas transfer ensures the greater extension of the shelf life of fruit treated. By-products of mango may thus be suitable for the production of low-cost biodegradable and active packaging.

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The improvement of the postharvest quality of tomato fruits was evaluated using an edible coating functionalized with an Flourensia cernua extract evaluating the antifungal, structural, barrier, and optical properties. The formulation and evaluation of an edible coating and its application on tomato was evaluated using a response surface methodology to determine the ideal concentrations of candelilla wax, whey protein, and glycerol. Edible films showed good barrier properties, with water vapor permeability varying from 0.435–0.404 g mm/m2 day kPa. The addition o F. cernua extract showed significant improvement in the transparency of films. The edible coating applied to tomato reduced weight and firmness loss. The sensory evaluation proved that the product obtained is acceptable for consumers. The edible coating added with F. cernua extract was the most effective in inhibiting the growth of pathogenic fungi and the visual appearance at the end of storage confirmed the beneficial effect of the edible coating.

One of the relevant problems in today's agriculture is related to phytopathogenic microorganisms that cause between 30–40% of crop losses. Synthetic chemical pesticides and antibiotics have brought human and environmental health problems and microbial resistance to these treatments. So, the search for natural alternatives is necessary. The genus Streptomyces have broad biotechnological potential, being a promising candidate for the biocontrol of phytopathogenic microorganisms. The efficacy of some species of this genus in plant protection and their continued presence in the intensely competitive rhizosphere is due to its great potential to produce a wide variety of soluble bioactive secondary metabolites and volatile organic compounds. However, more attention is still needed to develop novel formulations that could increase the shelf life of streptomycetes, ensuring their efficacy as a microbial pesticide. In this sense, encapsulation offers an advantageous and environmentally friendly option. The present review aims to describe some phytopathogenic microorganisms with economic importance that require biological control. In addition, it focuses mainly on the Streptomyces genus as a great producer of secondary metabolites that act on other microorganisms and plants, exercising its role as biological control. The review also covers some strategies and products based on Streptomyces and the problems of its application in the field.

Active edible films based on corn starch containing glycerol as a plasticizer and an olive extract obtained from Spanish olive fruit (Olea europaea) by-products (olive extract; OE) at different concentrations (0, 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 wt%) were prepared by using the casting technique and further solvent-evaporation. OE showed high total phenolic and flavonoids contents and antioxidant activity, which was evaluated by using three different methods: free radical scavenging assay by (1, 1-Dipheny l-2-picrylhydrazyl) DPPH, 2, 2-Azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) ABTS radical inhibition and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). The incorporation of OE into the corn starch/glycerol matrix underlined the antioxidant potential and antimicrobial effect against E. coli and S. aureus of these novel active films, being noticeable for films added with 0.2 wt% OE. The developed active films showed a clear thermo-oxidative stability improvement with OE incorporation, in particular at 0.2 wt% loading with an increase of around 50 °C in the initial degradation temperature (Tini) and oxidation onset temperature (OOT). The functional properties of control films were also improved with OE addition resulting in a decrease in Young’s modulus, elongation at break, shore D hardness and water vapor permeability. The present work suggested the potential of the developed corn starch-based edible films as low-price and sustainable food packaging systems to prevent the oxidative deterioration of packaged foodstuff while reducing also the generation of olive by-products.

Mango peels is a by-product obtained during mango processing, which is currently discarded causing environmental pollution. In the present study, mango peels were used as source of polyphenols and pectin. Additionally, antioxidant and antifungal activities were measured. The extraction condition to recover pectin and polyphenols at the same time was using water, 121 °C/10 min at 1:40 w/v ratio (9.38 g/100 g dry peels and 72.61 mg/g dry peels, respectively). With this treatment, higher antioxidant capacity was obtained (72.18, 37.73 and 39.23 ppm of total polyphenols from mango peels to inhibit 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) free radical; also the lipid oxidation inhibition reaction in 50%, respectively). Furthermore, this extract inhibited the radial growth of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Mucor sp. in 50% and Fusarium oxysporum in 33.33%. Thus, the results suggest that total polyphenols from mango peels is as attractive alternative source for bioactive compounds, like antioxidants and antifungal molecules.