Current Directions of Selected Plant-Origin Wastes' Valorization in Biotechnology of Food Additives and Other Important Chemicals.

Environmental pollution and the accumulation of industrial waste are increasingly serious issues that impose financial burdens on businesses and pose threats to ecosystems. As industrial production continues to grow, the volume of waste generated by humanity is rising, leading to a heightened need to search for effective waste management and recycling methods. One promising approach is the concept of a circular economy, where industrial waste, including agricultural and food processing waste, is transformed into new products. The goal is to maximize the utilization of natural resources, particularly in food production. This article presents various concepts for utilizing specific types of plant-based waste, particularly lignocellulosic, pectin, and starch wastes, in biotechnological processes aimed at producing value-added food ingredients with a technological function. The literature clearly shows that this waste can be effectively used in the cultivation of different microorganisms to produce enzymes, polyols, oligosaccharides, carboxylic acids, and biopolymers, among other products. However, further research is needed to explore more efficient and environmentally friendly methods, especially in the utilization of lignocellulose in biotechnology. This research shows knowledge gaps in existing discussed solutions.