Biotransformation of food waste into biofertilisers through composting and anaerobic digestion: a review

Abstract

By 2050, the world population is expected to swell to 10 billion people. With the challenge of climate change ahead (Lim et al. 2023), the requirement for a sustainable food source becomes evident. Currently, the average person is estimated to produce up to 110 kg of food waste (FW) per capita in the form of municipal solid waste. According to the United Nations (UN) definition, food encompasses substances intended for human consumption, including beverages and ingredients for preparation. The UN Food Waste Index includes both "edible parts" meant for consumption and "inedible parts" like bones and rinds, removed from the human food supply chain across sectors like manufacturing, retail, service, and households. FW arises not only from consumption (e.g., leftovers) but also during processing, production, and distribution. It encompasses various end destinations, including landfill, controlled combustion, sewer, composting,