A recent report published on 25 March highlights the untapped potential of waste from horticultural crops to be transformed into high-value chemicals and materials. The report was released by Growing Kent and Medway, a research and business innovation initiative in which NRI is a partner.
Advances in biotechnology present exciting new revenue opportunities for fruit, viticulture, and hop growers, while also helping to reduce the sector’s environmental impact. The report explores the numerous innovative uses for by-products and waste streams that might otherwise end up in landfills or biodigesters. It examines the potential for agricultural waste and horticultural crop by-products in Southeast England to contribute to a biobased circular economy.
The analysis highlights the significant potential to transform agricultural waste such as the residues left after pressing, peelings and trimmings, and non-edible parts of the plants, into high value chemicals and materials that various industries can utilise in their products. Industries such as pharmaceuticals, food, cosmetics and construction could benefit; compounds found in waste fruit can be used as natural alternatives to chemical food additives and dyes, antioxidants found in hops can be used to develop cancer-fighting drugs. Lower value but abundant waste materials like straw from cereal crops can be used to make sustainable construction materials and packaging, supporting efforts to reduce plastic waste and greenhouse gas emissions.
With a significant portion of the UK's horticulture sector located in the South East, substantial volumes of agricultural residues are generated, offering an opportunity for sustainable and economically valuable reuse. However, the analysis highlights gaps in regional infrastructure, specifically in the collection, processing and upcycling of agricultural waste. Addressing these gaps through targeted investment and innovation can enable South East England to become a leader in sustainable bioproduct development.
The report also emphasises the importance of collaboration among food producers, scientists and innovative bio-refinery businesses, to explore, understand and realise the untapped potential of the waste material.
Agricultural waste such as apple pomace (above) can be transformed into high-value products.
NRI’s Professor Debbie Rees who co-authored the report said: “This report provided a perfect opportunity for the team across the scientific institutions to bring together the background scientific information necessary for stakeholders to exploit these materials.”
Debbie is Professor of Plant Physiology at NRI.
Dr Nicola Harrison, Director for Growing Kent & Medway, who published the report said: ‘Finding new uses from parts of the crop we grow, but don’t currently use, not only helps create new markets and value for growers and farmers but can also improve the environmental impact of our UK food systems.’
Dr Harrison emphasised the need for a coordinated approach and targeted investment across the sector to ensure that technology, transportation and processing systems are in place to capitalise on these scientific advancements. ‘This would enable us to scale-up the transformation of our waste streams more rapidly into new, valuable products, generating new income opportunities for a sector that struggles with profitability due to rising costs,’ she added.
Scientists from the University of Kent, the University of Greenwich, Canterbury Christ Church University and Niab contributed to the publication. They include Professor Debbie Rees (NRI), Dr Robert Barker, Dr Helen Cockerton, Dr Lorraine Fisher, Sophie Packer and William Sullivan (University of Kent); Dr Asma Ahmed (University of Nottingham); Gary Horton (Canterbury Christ Church University) and Dr Abhimanyu Sarkar (Niab).
NRI and the wider Faculty of Engineering and Science of the University of Greenwich are part of the consortium of partners that make up Growing Kent & Medway (GKM). GKM is a world-class research, innovation and enterprise cluster that connects businesses in the region to support innovation and to establish the area as a world-leader in sustainable horticultural food and drink production.Read the full report, Plant Crop Waste and Valorisation in South East England: The Potential of Horticultural By-products for a Biobased Circular Economy, from the Growing Kent & Medway website.