Management of Agro-industrial Wastes with the Aid of Synthetic Biology

Abstract

Biomass is the renewable organic material and it can serve as a continuous source of sustainable energy by passing through proper channel. Lignocellulosic biomass is one of the most abundant renewable resources available on earth. Huge amount of lignocellulosic biomass is generated from agricultural and food industries as a waste material, commonly known as agro-industrial waste. It has low value for industries and a big problem as environmental pollutant, therefore its proper management is needed. This agro-industrial waste could be used to generate other valuable products which aid on its value as well as manage agro-waste substances. Thus, several technologies have been applied to recover maximal quantity of valuable products from agro-industrial waste but applications of emerging synthetic biology in production of high-value products seem to be more promising for its management. Synthetic biology is a combination of engineering and biology which is helpful in designing novel biochemical pathways, organisms, or redesign existing, genetic circuits, biological modules, and natural biological systems. Generally, bacteria or yeast biological systems grow easily and are able to produce altered enzymes very efficiently with desired modifications in their genome. These engineered organisms are able to convert agro-industrial waste into valuable products. Nowadays, several valuable products are produced by using synthetic biology approach from industrial waste generated from agro-food industries such as sugarcane bagasse, apple pomace, and citrus peel. Here, we will discuss about agro-industrial waste, biosynthetic tools, and case studies of application of synthetic biology to produce valuable products from agro-industrial waste such as production of prebiotics, nearly calorie-free sugars, and bioactive compounds.