Bioremediation of Agroindustrial Waste

Increase in demand for food and agro-based products have not only escalated waste generation but also necessitated sustainable waste management strategies. Food and agro-based waste products comprise diverse organic residues, including crop by-products, animal residues, and by-products from food and agroindustrial processing. These by-products, if left untreated, contribute to severe environmental degradation through emissions, pollution, and potential pathogen proliferation. While valorisation of agricultural and food waste is employed for production of biofuels, fertilizers, bioplastics, and bio-chemicals, bioremediation, on the other hand, employs microbial application for pollutants degradation. Together, these approaches not only represent promising solutions for waste to wealth alternatives, but also help in mitigating climate change and fostering a circular economy by repurposing organic residues. Adoption of integrated waste management policies play a critical role in achieving a sustainable development goal (SDG) and advancing sustainable practices that yield both ecological and economic benefits.