The exponential growth of agricultural output is a result of the increasing world population. Agro-wastes are now acknowledged as an alternative material for the manufacture of renewable, inexpensive, and sustainable bio-composite-based products. Huge amounts of agricultural produce are often lost owing to a lack of processing facilities or storage space. Agriculture wastes contain a significant concentration of carbohydrates as well as various multifunctional groups and organic substances, such as polymeric proteins. Interestingly, nanotechnology provides better potential to transform agricultural wastes easily into valuable and cost-effective products, removing the need to utilize noxious chemicals, which can create a variety of health and environmental difficulties. Recently, there has been an increase in interest in eco-friendly nanomaterial (NM) production techniques that utilize extracts generated from agricultural waste. Such nanoparticles (NPs) have been extensively studied for numerous uses, including antibacterial agents, water purification, the breakdown of industrial colours, and many others. Consequently, the purpose of this review is to investigate the different sources, characteristics, and nano-management of agro-waste; valuable NMs derived from agro-waste; and their possible applications.
The growing population and healthy food demands have led to a rise in food waste generation, causing severe environmental and economic impacts. However, food waste (FW) can be converted into sustainable animal feed, reducing waste disposal and providing an alternative protein source for animals. The utilization of FW as animal feed presents a solution that not only tackles challenges pertaining to FW management and food security but also lessens the demand for the development of traditional feed, which is an endeavour that is both resource and environmentally intensive in nature. Moreover, this approach can also contribute to the circular economy by creating a closed-loop system that reduces the use of natural resources and minimizes environmental pollution. Therefore, this review discusses the characteristics and types of FW, as well as advanced treatment methods that can be used to recycle FW into high-quality animal feed and its limitations, as well as the benefits and drawbacks of using FW as animal feed. Finally, the review concludes that utilization of FW as animal feed can provide a sustainable solution for FW management, food security, preserving resources, reducing environmental impacts, and contributing to the circular bioeconomy.
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