Food waste bioconversion into new food: A mini-review on nutrients circularity in the production of mushrooms, microalgae and insects

The global challenge of feeding an ever-increasing world population is leading scientists' attention towards nutritious and sustainable foods whose production should have low impacts on environment, economy and society. In case the input feedstock can be waste nutrients, the label of such productions becomes even greener. Nutrients circularity is nowadays an important circular economy practice. This mini-review focuses on the valorisation of food waste as precious biomass to grow new food and feed. In particular, three functional edibles are discussed in the present paper: mushrooms, microalgae and insects. These foods are part of people diets since ages in certain areas of the world and the original aspect of their cultivation and breeding found on waste nutrients recovery is here reviewed. Proofs of such food waste biorefinery viability are already given by several researches featuring the main traits of a suitable growing medium: optimal pool of nutrients and optimal pH. However, lot of work still needs to be done in order to assess the optimal growth and cultivation conditions and the health security of the harvested/bred edibles. A SWOT factors analysis was performed.

Automated summary

The study focuses on using food waste as valuable biomass to grow new food and feed, specifically discussing mushrooms, microalgae, and insects as functional edibles. The cultivation and breeding of these foods are based on the recovery of waste nutrients, showing potential viability, but more work is needed to evaluate optimal growth and cultivation conditions as well as the health safety of the harvested edibles.