AnchoisFert: A New Organic Fertilizer from Fish Processing Waste for Sustainable Agriculture

The AnchoisFert, the solid residue comprised of milled anchovy leftovers after fish oil extraction with biobased limonene, is a powerful organic fertilizer. Employed to promote the growth of Tropea's red onion (Allium cepa), the fertilizer turns out to largely be superior to commonly used organic (manure) and chemical (nitrogen phosphorous potassium) fertilizers. Rich in proteins, organic carbon, flavonoids, magnesium, potassium, phosphate and sulfate, and devoid of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes, the new organic fertilizer can replace both conventional organic and inorganic fertilizers. This discovery closes the fishing material cycle for the most fished species across the seas opening the route to a new class of organic fertilizers of exceptional performance derived from abundant biowaste via a low-cost and environmentally-friendly circular economy process.

Automated summary

AnchoisFert, an organic fertilizer made from milled anchovy leftovers and biobased limonene, is found to be highly effective in promoting the growth of Tropea's red onion. It outperforms commonly used organic and chemical fertilizers, contains rich nutrients without antibiotics or antibiotic resistance genes, and can replace conventional organic and inorganic fertilizers. This discovery closes the material cycle for the most fished species in the seas and paves the way for a new class of high-performance organic fertilizers derived from abundant biowaste through a low-cost and environmentally-friendly circular economy process.