Agro-industrial By-products Research Articles

Fruitful Brewing: Exploring Consumers' and Producers' Attitudes towards Beer Produced with Local Fruit and Agroindustrial By-Products.

This study explored beer consumers' and producers' perceptions of using local fruit and agroindustrial by-products in brewing. An online survey was conducted in Italy with 496 beer consumers and 54 beer producers. The survey assessed sociodemographic information, consumption behavior, and support for brewery neolocalism, along with brewers' perceptions of the sustainability of their breweries. Findings showed high consumers' involvement in sustainable eating and high support for breweries utilizing local resources and operating in a sustainable way. Breweries rated their sustainability practices as moderate, and most of them considered their efforts in using local raw materials and repurposing by-products as "excellent". Both consumers and producers considered beer made with agroindustrial by-products less tasty than those with local fruit (p < 0.05), but no significant difference in willingness to buy was observed (p > 0.05). According to cluster analysis results, the ideal consumer profile for sustainable beers was characterized by a higher proportion of females prioritizing sustainability and local sourcing over sensory quality. Therefore, using local materials or agroindustrial by-products can align brewers' practices with consumers' preferences, enhancing competitiveness and market positioning by fostering a sense of sustainability and locality.

Fermented sunflower meal in diets for Atlantic salmon under commercial-like farming conditions promotes gut lactic acid bacteria and controls inflammation in the distal intestine

The global increase of aquaculture production has caused an escalating demand for alternative protein feed ingredients. Agro-industrial by-products such as sunflower meal are relatively abundant and cheap, but the content of antinutritional factors and fiber in the raw products reduce nutritional value and limit the inclusion levels in the feed for nutritionally demanding species, including salmonids. Solid-state fermentation is a microbial processing method with the potential to reduce the content of fiber and antinutritional factors and improve nutritional value in plant protein raw materials. In this study, Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) at two commercial-like fish farms were fed experimental diets containing either 5 % non-fermented sunflower meal (as a control diet), 5 % fermented sunflower meal or 10 % fermented sunflower meal. The aim was to compare the effects of fermented sunflower meal on growth performance, gut microbiota, distal intestine histology and gene expression of Atlantic salmon under different environmental conditions. The field trial lasted for 8 and 11 months in a coastal and fjord location, respectively. The findings revealed that diets with fermented sunflower meal sustained growth performance, improved intestinal health by reducing the prevalence of prominent inflammation and ectopic goblet cells, as well as down-regulated the expression of physiological pathways related to tissue damage and cell division. Additionally, 10 % fermented sunflower meal promoted the relative abundance of gut lactic acid bacteria Lactiplantibacillus and Lactobacillaceae after long-term feeding. Our results suggest that fermented sunflower meal is a suitable protein source for Atlantic salmon when included at a level of up to 10 % in the diet.

The potential of soybean curd residue and water fraction of dragon fruit peel in wet noodles formulation

The potential of agro-industrial by-products in food products development have been reported for their nutritional composition. Soybean curd residue (okara flour - OF) and dragon fruit peels (DFP) have been known as a source of protein, fiber, and antioxidant compounds. Their potential in wet noodle formulation has never been investigated. The study aimed to investigate the potential of soybean curd residue, OF, and water fraction of DFP in wet noodles formulation. Four different levels of OF (0, 10, 20, and 30 %) and four different levels of DFP (0, 7, 9, and 11 %) was incorporated in wheat-based wet noodles. Physicochemical properties, sensory acceptability and antioxidant properties were investigated. The study showed that most impact was given by different levels of OF. The higher level of OF declined the moisture content and protein content significantly (p < 0.05) from a range of 45–48 % to the lowest level at 31 % and from 6.7–8 % to 5 %, respectively. The ash content increased as the level of OF was higher from 0.27 % to the highest level at 0.63 %. All the formulated noodles had a desirable value of cooking loss (<10 %) although it increased from 6 % in control to 9 % in 30 % OF addition. Hedonic sensory acceptability revealed that up to 20 % OF addition generated the same level of acceptability as it was in control showing and the incorporation of 9 % DFP to the 20 % of OF addition had the highest score of sensory acceptability. Antioxidant activity revealed that the selected formula (20 % OF and 9 % DFP) had higher antioxidant capability against DPPH shown by the lower level of IC50. In conclusion, combination of OF and DFP can be expected as sustainable food ingredients in wet noodles formulation.

Effect of Seed Rate on Forage Yield, and Nutritional Value of Sudan Grass and Vetch Mixtures in Ethiopia: A Review

The livestock feed resources in Ethiopia are classified as natural pasture, crop residues, improved pasture and forage, agro-industrial by-products, and also hay production of which the first two feed resources are the major feed contributors for the livestock production in Ethiopia but they are lacking in protein and minerals. Natural pastures contribute about 80-85 of animal feed in Ethiopia, including naturally occurring grasses, legumes, shrubs, hurbs, and tree foliages. Crop residue is one of the feed resources used for animal production in Ethiopia and is available in those areas in which livestock and crop production are practiced. Around 30 million tonnes of DM of agricultural crop residues are produced annually on the national scale, of which 70% are used as animal feed. The major agro-industrial by products commonly used in Ethiopia are obtained from different agro-industries. The nutritional values of agro-industrial by products are excellent but their productivity is small, limited, and limited to few farms in urban and peri-urban areas and they contribute much less to livestock feed. Furthermore, traditional livestock feed supply mainly depends upon natural pasture and crop residues, which have low crude protein and other chemical composition. However, there is tremendous potential to alleviate feed shortages using improved forage production. To fulfill this gap, producing a stable improved forage in the livestock sector is mandatory. For that reason, the legume and grass intercropping system are important to increase biomass production and forage yield. Hence, Sudan grass (Aden gode) known with its plant height than other cultivars and vetch (&amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Vicia dasycarpa&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;) have greater plant height and creeping growth habit that enable compatible to larger grass species and they are selectable forages to enhance the forage yield and quality under similar times.

Optimizing Encapsulation of Active Compounds of Carrot By-Product in TPP-Chitosomes.

Liposomes coated with chitosan by ionic gelation with tripolyphosphate (TPP-chitosomes) are interesting particles for stabilizing active compounds. However, the encapsulation condition must be optimized. The aim of this study was to optimize the encapsulation of phenolics and carotenoids of carrot pomace in TPP-chitosomes by using a Central Composite Design 23 and response surface methodology. The independent variables were the phospholipid (0.8-4.2 mg/mL), chitosan (2.6-9.4 mg/mL), and carrot pomace (4-14 g/100 mL of ethanol) concentrations; the responses were the encapsulation efficiency in TPP-chitosomes (EE) of phenolics, a-carotene, and b-carotene and the particle size and zeta potential of the particles. The zeta potential ranged from +17 to +37 mV, indicating that the liposomes were coated with chitosan and that the particle sizes were in the nanometric to submicrometric scale. The optimized condition for encapsulating carotenoids was 2.5 mg/mL phospholipids, 6.0 mg/mL chitosan, and 12 g of carrot pomace/100 mL of ethanol. In this condition, the EE of phenolics and α- and β-carotene was 95%, 98%, and 99%, respectively. Therefore, TPP-chitosomes containing encapsulated phenolics and carotenoids, which can be obtained from agro-industrial by-products, have potential application as natural pigments in food or cosmetics. TPP-chitosomes can also be used to encapsulate other types of natural pigments.

Non-composted and blended agro-industrial by-products an as alternative soilless substrate affect potted zonal geranium (Pelargonium x hortorum) and murva (Murraya paniculata) production

Due to their hiking prices and import restrictions, peat moss and coco coir are not readily available in many developing countries including Pakistan. Therefore, it is necessary to explore alternative soilless substrates having low cost and comparable physico-chemical properties with peat moss and coco coir for local and global market. For this purpose, indigenous agro-industrial by-products, viz., sesame straw, date palm coir, sugarcane pressmud, sugar beet waste and pine bark were collected, cleaned, crushed (where needed) and blended for physico-chemical analyses. Zonal geranium ‘Pinto White’ and murva (Murraya paniculata Kaneh.) were used to evaluate the efficacy of various combinations of substrates on plant growth and production. Three experiments were conducted with six treatments of each experiment replicated three times. Blending of sesame straw with sugarcane pressmud and pine bark (4:4:2 by volume) yielded best results and marketable plants were produced with tallest height (35.8 cm), canopy diameter (20.8 cm), leaf area (29.2 cm2), leaf total chlorophyll contents (62.1 SPAD) and flowers per plant (5.0 No.) along with shortest production time (103 days). Same results were recorded when murva plants were grown in 4:4:2 blending of sesame straw, sugarcane pressmud and pine bark. Zonal geranium and murva plants did not perform well when sesame straw was blended with date palm coir and sugar beet waste. Blending of sesame straw with sugarcane pressmud and pine bark had low pH (7.0), electrical conductivity (1.37 mS cm-1), bulk density (0.29 g cm-3) while high water retention (34.7 %) as compared to other blended substrates. However, shrinkage of substrates in containers was highest (7.7 %) when sesame straw was blended with sugarcane pressmud and pine bark in 5:3:2 followed by 4:4:2. pH value of all blended substrates decreased at termination except when sesame straw, sugarcane pressmud and pine bark were blended in 4:4:2 and 5:2:3, which was increased from 7.0 to 7.1. Electrical conductivity of all blended substrates was decreased at termination of the experiments. It can be concluded that blending of sesame straw, sugarcane pressmud and pine bark in 4:4:2 (v/v/v) significantly improved physico-chemical characteristics of substrates as well as plant growth and production attributes of zonal geranium and murva. Therefore, this indigenous soilless substrate, which is cheaper and readily available to nurserymen can be used as alternative of peat moss and coco coir for containerized plant production.

Maize bran as an agro-industrial by-product: its bioactive compounds and their potential health benefits

Maize bran as an agro-industrial by-product: its bioactive compounds and their potential health benefits

Microorganism Contribution to Mass-Reared Edible Insects: Opportunities and Challenges.

The interest in edible insects' mass rearing has grown considerably in recent years, thereby highlighting the challenges of domesticating new animal species. Insects are being considered for use in the management of organic by-products from the agro-industry, synthetic by-products from the plastics industry including particular detoxification processes. The processes depend on the insect's digestive system which is based on two components: an enzymatic intrinsic cargo to the insect species and another extrinsic cargo provided by the microbial community colonizing-associated with the insect host. Advances have been made in the identification of the origin of the digestive functions observed in the midgut. It is now evident that the community of microorganisms can adapt, improve, and extend the insect's ability to digest and detoxify its food. Nevertheless, edible insect species such as Hermetia illucens and Tenebrio molitor are surprisingly autonomous, and no obligatory symbiosis with a microorganism has yet been uncovered for digestion. Conversely, the intestinal microbiota of a given species can take on different forms, which are largely influenced by the host's environment and diet. This flexibility offers the potential for the development of novel associations between insects and microorganisms, which could result in the creation of synergies that would optimize or expand value chains for agro-industrial by-products, as well as for contaminants.

Partial replacement of soybean with alternative protein sources: Effects on meat quality, sensory attributes, and fatty acids and amino acids content of breast meat of a local chicken strain.

The environmental sustainability of soybean cultivation has been questioned as it has been linked to deforestation, eutrophication, pesticide use, and carbon dioxide footprint. Agri-industrial byproducts and black soldier fly (BSF) larvae meal are promising alternative protein sources that can be used to partly replace soybean in broiler diets. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of partial replacement of soybeans with agro-industrial by-products with or without the addition of BSF dried larvae meal on the meat quality, fatty acid and amino acid content, and sensory traits of breast meat of local chickens. A total of 252 one-day-old mixed-sex chicks from the Anadolu-T pure dam line were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 diets; a soybean-based Control diet, a diet in which soybean meal was partly replaced (SPR) with brewers' dried grain, sunflower seed meal, and wheat middlings and an SPR + BSF diet in which 5% of BSF dried larva meal was added to the SPR diet. All birds were slaughtered at a commercial slaughterhouse at 55 days and breast and drumstick muscles were sampled for meat quality analysis from 18 chickens/dietary treatments. No significant effects of diets were observed for the pH24 and lightness, redness, and yellowness of breast and leg meats. Thawing loss significantly decreased and cooking loss increased in the breast meat of chickens fed the SPR + BSF compared with those fed Control and SPR diets. Diets did not affect either texture profile or consumer sensory properties of breast meat. The chickens fed the SPR + BSF had the highest total saturated fatty acid and lower polyunsaturated fatty acid content in breast meat than those fed the Control and SPR diets. The essential and nonessential amino acid content of breast meat decreased by the SPR diet compared with the SPR + BSF diet. The chickens fed SPR + BSF diet had higher values of tasty, aromatic, and umami-related amino acids than those fed SPR and Control diets. In conclusion, the results of the present study indicated that agri-industrial byproducts with or without BSF larvae meal could be used to partially replace soybean meal in broiler diets without affecting technological meat quality traits. The addition of BSF larvae meal to the diet along with agri-industrial by-products improved the amino acid content of the breast meat of chickens but reduced polyunsaturated fatty acid levels.

Design of an agro-industrial by-products-based media for the production of probiotic bacteria for fish nutrition

Probiotic production in commercial culture media is expensive, so, it is necessary to design culture media based on “low-cost” components like agro-industrial by-products. Therefore, this study aimed to design an agro-industrial by-product-based culture media using whey, sugarcane molasses, and palm kernel cake as components to produce Lactococcus lactis A12, Priestia megaterium M4, and Priestia sp. M10 isolated from Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) associated gut microbiota. Higher bacterial concentrations were achieved at high whey concentrations and low concentrations of sugarcane molasses and palm kernel cake (PKC) using agitation. The optimal conditions were whey, 3.84% w/v; sugarcane molasses, 7.39% w/v; PKC, 0.77% w/v; and agitation speed, 75 RPM. Bacterial growth under optimal conditions was compared to that in commercial Brain–Heart Infusion (BHI) broth. L. lactis A12 showed similar growth in the optimal media and BHI. The estimated cost of the culture media based on component prices was USD $ 3.01/L, which is 86.93% lower than BHI broth (USD $ 23.04/L). It was possible to design a “low-cost agro-industrial by-product-based culture media to produce L. lactis A12 and the two Priestia species under monoculture conditions.

Dynamic high-pressure microfluidization reduces aggregation and enhances functional properties of flaxseed protein isolates obtained by alkaline extraction

Obtaining proteins from agro-industrial by-products can enhance their value and reduce waste. Flaxseed meal, a by-product of flaxseed oil extraction, contains up to 40% protein. Enhancing flaxseed protein extraction and improving the functionality of the protein isolates presents an opportunity to add value to this by-product and to expand its application. This study aimed to optimize the alkaline extraction of proteins from flaxseed meal and to evaluate the impact of microfluidization on the physicochemical and techno-functional properties of the resulting protein isolates. Optimal extraction was achieved at pH 10.9 and 45 °C, with an extraction yield of 63.04% and a global yield of 29.71%. Microfluidization significantly reduced the particle size and β-sheet content while increasing the hydrophobicity, solubility, and α-helix content of flaxseed protein isolates (FPI). Additionally, there was a decrease in free-sulfhydryl groups as pressure increased. Concentrated FPI solutions exhibited gel-like behavior (G' > G”), with moduli increasing at 54 and 68 °C. Stability was maintained during frequency sweeps, and the highest-pressure treatment resulted in the lowest tan δ value, indicating more solid-like behavior. These findings underscore the potential of microfluidization as an industrial technique to enhance the functional properties of FPI obtained through alkaline extraction, particularly by reducing protein aggregation.

Sustainable cultivation of Porphyridium cruentum via agro-industrial by-products: A study on biomass and lipid enhancement

This study explored the cultivation of Porphyridium cruentum using beet molasses and corn steep liquor (CSL) as alternative agri-waste substrates. The objective was to enhance the biomass and lipid production of P. cruentum, known for its potential as an industrial EPA producer. Using a Box-Behnken Design (BBD) as part of the response surface methodology (RSM), we investigated the effects of beet molasses, CSL, and F/2 nutrients on the microalga's cultivation. The results demonstrated a significant influence of these factors on the final cell count and lipid content over an 8-day cultivation period. Specifically, optimal growth conditions were identified at approximately 1.78 g/L of molasses and 1.89 g/L of CSL, yielding a cell count of 12.1 × 106 cells/mL and a lipid content of 24.48%. Validation experiments reaffirmed these findings, with observed results closely aligning with predicted values. Optimized media achieved also a significant higher content of carotenoids and phycobiliproteins compared to the standard media. This research highlights the potential of using agro-industrial by-products for large-scale cultivation of P. cruentum, offering a sustainable approach for enhancing lipid and pigment production.

Electrospun Poly-ε-Caprolactone Nanofibers Incorporating Keratin Hydrolysates as Innovative Antioxidant Scaffolds.

This manuscript describes the development and characterization of electrospun nanofibers incorporating bioactive hydrolysates obtained from the microbial bioconversion of feathers, a highly available agro-industrial byproduct. The electrospun nanofibers were characterized using different instrumental methods, and their antioxidant properties and toxicological potential were evaluated. Keratin hydrolysates (KHs) produced by Bacillus velezensis P45 were incorporated at 1, 2.5, and 5% (w/w) into poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL; 10 and 15%, w/v solutions) before electrospinning. The obtained nanofibers were between 296 and 363 nm in diameter, showing a string-like morphology and adequate structural continuity. Thermogravimetric analysis showed three weight loss events, with 5% of the mass lost up to 330 °C and 90% from 350 to 450 °C. Infrared spectroscopy showed typical peaks of PCL and amide bands corresponding to keratin peptides. The biological activity was preserved after electrospinning and the hemolytic activity was below 1% as expected for biocompatible materials. In addition, the antioxidant capacity released from the nanofibers was confirmed by DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities. The DPPH scavenging activity observed for the nanofibers was greater than 30% after 24 h of incubation, ranging from 845 to 1080 µM TEAC (Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity). The antioxidant activity for the ABTS radical assay was 44.19, 49.61, and 56.21% (corresponding to 972.0, 1153.3, and 1228.7 µM TEAC) for nanofibers made using 15% PCL with 1, 2.5, and 5% KH, respectively. These nanostructures may represent interesting antioxidant biocompatible materials for various pharmaceutical applications, including wound dressings, topical drug delivery, cosmetics, and packaging.

Exploring Agro-Industrial By-Products: Phenolic Content, Antioxidant Capacity, and Phytochemical Profiling via FI-ESI-FTICR-MS Untargeted Analysis.

This study investigates agro-industrial by-products as sources of bioactive compounds, particularly focusing on phenolic compounds known for their antioxidant properties. With growing interest in natural alternatives to synthetic antioxidants due to safety concerns, this study highlights the health benefits of plant-derived phenolic compounds in food preservation and healthcare products. Traditional and advanced analytical techniques were used to obtain phytochemical profiles of various residue extracts, including espresso (SCG) and cold-brew spent coffee grounds (CBCG), pineapple peel (PP), beetroot pomace (BP), apple pomace (AP), black carrot pomace (BCP), and garlic peel (GP). Assessments of total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant capacity (AC) supported their revalorization. CBCG showed the highest TPC, TFC, and AC. TPC content in by-products decreased in the order CBCG > SCG > GP > BCP > PP > AP > BP, with a similar trend for TFC and AC. Phytochemical profiling via FI-ESI-FTICR-MS enabled the preliminary putative identification of a range of compounds, with polyphenols and terpenes being the most abundant. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed key patterns among samples. Strong positive correlations (Pearson's R > 0.8) indicated significant contribution of polyphenols to antioxidant capacities. These findings highlight the potential of agro-industrial residues as natural antioxidants, advocating for their sustainable utilization.

New approaches for solubilization of phosphate rocks through solid-state fermentation by optimization of oxalic acid production

This study explores the enhancement of phosphate rock (PR) solubilization through solid-state fermentation (SSF) by optimizing oxalic acid production using Aspergillus niger. Key process parameters, including the use of agro-industrial by-products (sugarcane bagasse (SCB), wheat bran (WB), soybean bran (SB)), pH levels, sucrose supplementation, and methanol addition, were systematically evaluated through sequential experimental designs. The results identified SCB and SB in a 1:1 ratio as the most effective substrate. Remarkably, the inclusion of methanol (7 %) and sucrose (0.5 %) resulted in a 3-fold increase in oxalic acid production. Under these optimized conditions, significant phosphorus solubilization of Bayóvar, Itafós, and Registro PRs was achieved, with Bayóvar rock releasing up to 12.1 g/kgds of soluble P (63.8 % efficiency). Additionally, the SSF process effectively released organic phosphorus from the agro-industrial substrates. These findings hold promise for advancing the bio-based economy and developing future industrial biofertilizers.

Green extraction, chemical profile and biological activity of waste products from the olive oil industry: From waste to wealth

Olive oil is the most used vegetable oil for human consumption and its production represents an important economic sector, especially in Mediterranean countries. Olive trees are grown in more than 40 countries around the world on over 10 million hectares. The milling industry generates large quantities of liquid and solid residues, the disposal of which requires sophisticated and rather expensive procedures, given the polluting characteristics of the processing products. Since a considerable measure of olive-derived biomass is generated each year, it could be used as a potential source of bioactive compounds. This work evaluates the possibility of recovering natural antioxidants from by-products of the olive oil mill, through the optimization of extraction processes with green approaches. In the present work, through HPLC-PDA analysis with a validated method, it was possible to characterize a chemical profile of the extracts obtained through an optimized (DoE) and green approach. The waste products of the olive oil companies represent the samples considered in this work, and are derived from the pomace and the washing water of 2-phases, 2.5-phases, and 3-phase extra virgin olive oil (EVO) production plants. The optimized extraction methodology, starting from the 2.5-phase olive pomace, proved to be satisfactory in terms of efficiency by evaluating the effect of parameters such as extraction time and process temperature. The application of this methodology to other types of pomace and agro-industrial by-products has highlighted excellent results in terms of extraction yield, demonstrating the validity of this procedure as also suitable for other solid residues coming from the olive oil mill. Regarding the treatment in vegetation water, the developed protocol allowed the chromatographic profile of the analytes extracted from this matrix to be evaluated, leading to satisfactory results in terms of quantitative yields. Samples of these extracts are also subjected to biological tests in order to evaluate their antioxidant and enzyme inhibition activities.

Utilization of local agro-industrial by-products based substrates to enhance production and dietary value of mushroom (P. ostreatus) in Ethiopia

Food insecurity and malnutrition are serious problems in many developing countries, including Ethiopia. This situation warrants an urgent need for the diversification of food sources with enhanced productivity. This study was aimed at contributing to the food security in Ethiopia through cultivation of Pleurotus ostreatus mushrooms using sustainable and locally available agro-industrial byproduct-based substrates in parallel with pollution control. Ten substrates were prepared using sugarcane bagasse, filter cake, trash, cotton seed hull and animal waste, namely cow dung and horse and chicken manure. The effect of each substrate (treatment) on the yields, biological efficiency, nutritional composition, and mineral contents of Pleurotus ostreatus mushroom species was evaluated at the Ethiopian Forest Products Innovation Center, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The results obtained indicate that a significantly higher (p < 0.05) yield and biological efficiency were recorded from the mushroom cultivated on S2 substrate containing a mixture of 80% sugarcane bagasse, 12% cow dung, and 8% cotton seed hull. Moreover, substrate containing sugarcane bagasse mixed with cotton seed hull, cow dung, and chicken manure significantly (p < 0.05) increased the yields and biological efficiency of the mushroom. The content of protein, crude fat, fiber, and carbohydrates of the mushroom cultivated from all the utilized substrates were in the range of 17.30–21.5, 1.77–2.52, 31.03–34.38, and 28.02–39.74%, respectively. The critical macro-elements are abundant in the mushroom in the order of potassium, magnesium, calcium, and sodium. The mushrooms cultivated on all the substrates were rich in essential micro-elements in the order of iron and zinc. It was found that substrate preparation and formulation significantly (p < 0.05) improved the yields, biological efficiency, nutritive values, and mineral contents of the mushroom. The use of these by-products as substrates is sustainable and environmentally friendly and allows the production of mushroom with high nutritional value on a sustainable basis in order to enhance food security in the country.

Investigating process parameters to enhance (hemi)cellulolytic enzymes activity produced by Trichoderma reesei RUT-C30 using deoiled oil palm mesocarp fiber in solid-state fermentation

This study investigates the synthesis of (hemi)cellulolytic enzymes, including endoglucanase (CMCase), xylanase, and β-glucosidase, employing Trichoderma reesei RUT-C30 and deoiled oil palm mesocarp fiber (OPMF) through solid-state fermentation (SSF). The objective was to determine the optimal process conditions for achieving high enzyme activities through a one-factor-at-a-time approach. The study primarily focused on the impact of the solid-to-liquid ratio, incubation period, initial pH, and temperature on enzyme activity. The effects of OPMF pretreatment, particularly deoiling and fortification, were explored. This approach significantly improved enzyme activity levels compared to the initial conditions, with CMCase increasing by 111.6 %, xylanase by 665.2 %, and β-Glucosidase by 1678.1 %. Xylanase and β-glucosidase activities, peaking at 1346.75 and 9.89 IU per gram dry substrate (GDS), respectively, under optimized conditions (1:4 ratio, pH 7.5, 20 °C, 9-day incubation). With lower moisture levels, CMCase reached its maximum activity of 227.84 IU/GDS. The study highlights how important it is for agro-industrial byproducts to support environmentally sustainable practices in the palm oil industry. It also emphasizes how differently each enzyme reacts to changes in process parameters.

Agro-industrial by-products as a feeding strategy for producing functional milk

Agro-industrial by-products contain valuable components such as polyphenols that can play a significant role in producing milk with specific properties through rumen fermentation. In Egypt, the buffalo milk chain has a potential market, which is larger than that for cow milk, especially in small villages. Therefore, this study aims to explore different feed ingredients from agro-waste for enhancing the functional properties of raw buffalo milk including polyphenols, flavonoids, vitamins A, C, α-tocopherol, and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) contents. For this purpose, thirty dairy water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) with a weight of about 520 kg were randomly divided into five groups of six animals each. The first group was fed a basal diet (silage) without agro-waste, while the other four groups were fed the basal diet after replacing 25% of the diet with different agro-wastes including barley (snack/bakery waste), sweet potato/carrot, biscuit/cake waste and tomato pomace. The feeding experimental period lasted 90 days, then milk samples (n = 150) were collected. Our results show that adding sweet potato/ carrot or tomato pomace to the basal diet enhanced the contents of vitamins A, C, and phenolic compounds reflecting on the enhancement of the antioxidant capacity of raw buffalo milk. Concerning the CLA content, the milk samples collected from buffalo fed the basal diet fortified with tomato pomace and biscuit/cake waste had the highest CLA and α-tocopherol content. Therefore, this study recommends using the tested agro-waste ingredients for producing functional buffalo milk, especially for small-medium milk producers.

Availability, distribution and quality of agro-industrial byproducts and compound feeds in Ethiopia

Livestock production is a major contributor to the national economy in Ethiopia, of which ruminants, particularly cattle, are the dominant and most important livestock species. Limited supply of quality feeds is a major constraint to the improvement of livestock production in Ethiopia. The expansion of agro-industries in Ethiopia, over the last three decades, has created an opportunity for an increased supply of agro-industrial byproducts as a source of feed for livestock. This study was conducted to assess the availability, distribution, and quality of agro-industrial byproducts and compound feeds in Ethiopia. About 310 flour mill factories, 194 oil factories, 13 brewery factories, 7 sugar factories, 4 malt factories, 2 meat and bone meal processing plants, 8 limestone factories, and 112 feed processing plants were surveyed to assess the availability and distributions of agro-industrial byproducts and compound feeds. A total of 757 feed samples were collected for evaluating nutritional values. The annual production of agro-industrial byproducts ranges from 18,065 tons DM/year (abattoir byproducts) to 3,092,035 tons DM/year (malt byproducts) and the total annual production of the different agro-industrial by-products amounts to 5,245,854 tons DM. The annual production of compound feeds was reported to be 5,812,608 tons DM. All agro-industries are processing under their capacity, ranging from 11.7% in sugar factories to 93% in breweries. Shortage and seasonal fluctuation of supply of raw materials (34.8%), high price and price fluctuations of raw materials (17.5%) and electric power interruptions (17.5%) were the major challenges faced by different agro-industries. The crude protein (CP) concentrations of agro-industrial byproducts ranges from 6.2% in maize grain screening to 15.9% in wheat bran for flour mill byproducts; 28% in cotton seed cake to 49.7% in groundnut cake for oilseed cakes and 14.8% in areqe atela to 24.8% in brewery spent grains for brewery and local distillery byproducts. High protein or energy contents of agro-industrial byproducts indicated their potential to be utilized in intensive livestock rations. Thus, it is necessary to create enabling conditions to allow the existing agro-industries to operate at full capacity and to attract new ones into the business to boost the production and availability of agro-industrial byproducts needed as main inputs to manufacture compound feeds.