Food processing has gained
it’s popularity over the years and is expanding day by day at a noticeable rate. The growing demand and production of horticultural crops are leading to the accumulation of a huge amount of horticulture waste. The Disposal of Horticultural wastes has become a big challenge. But what if it can be utilized in a beneficial way? How about gaining maximum profit from the minimum investment? How about earning from things we discard and throw away? So, let us know the possible ways.
Content(click the topics under content to directly reach the topic of the blog)
• Benefits of using horticultural waste • Different Types Of Horticultural Wastes • By-product Utilization • Value Added by-products from Horticultural waste
Benefits of using horticultural waste
Do you know? Most common horticultural waste include peels, pomace, seeds, rinds which are highly rich in bioactive compounds like oils, vitamin, polyphenols, carotenoids, minerals, fiber, etc. These bioactive compounds are helpful in various industries like food industries ( e.g.; for probiotics food to develop edibles) and other sectors. When one has a minimum cost input material (horticulture waste) to obtain value-added sustainable products to make benefits. Why would one not take this opportunity? Now the farmers not only can receive the benefits of horticultural crops but can also utilize horticultural wastes.
Different Types Of Horticultural Waste A lot of waste is generated from the fruit and vegetable processing industries. Here is the list of commodities and the nature of waste generated from them:
By-product Utilization:
Waste products obtained from Horticultural crops can be managed and reused without incurring any loss to the environment. The concept of circular economy which aims at organic waste minimization and reuse was adopted in Almeria( SE Spain). Current efforts are being applied to obtain a more sustainable and integrated model.
Value Added by-products from Horticultural waste
• Citrus
Citrus waste is highly used in making essential oils and then used in various fields, including food, perfume, cosmetics. Various technologies such as microwave-assisted hydro-distillation and supercritical CO2 extraction have been developed by the researcher to achieve higher essential oil output. Rags, peels, and seeds of orange waste are used as livestock feed in dried and wet forms.
Innovative business and startup ideas by using citrus waste can give immense profit. Some uses of citrus peels are enlisted below: Homemade Cleaner from Citrus peels:
1- Take a glass jar and fill it with chopped citrus peel then pour vinegar into it until it is submerged and screw the lid. 2- Occasionally shake the jar to mix the liquid. 3- After four weeks, pour the solution through the strainer and then fill it in a spray bottle. 4- Your cleaner is ready to use.
Make your own Lemon pepper seasoning:
1- Grind dried lemon peels into powder, and toss with water and salt.
2- This stuff is addictive and is way cheaper than what you buy from stores.
• Banana
Banana is among the world's most important fruits and is widely cultivated in tropical countries. According to a Report, Banana cultivation industries produce large amounts of waste every year as farmers generally cut down the whole pseudo-stem of the Banana plant at the harvesting time producing waste in a vast amount.
Banana waste can easily be degraded but instead why not use it in a productive way. It is observed that the by-products from bananas such as seeds, pseudo-stem, peels are of great importance. Ripened bananas can be sun-dried and used as poultry feed.
Banana Leaves:
• Leaves are used for weaving baskets, food wrapping, coverings over food, table cloth, and plates (tablewares). • Protein content in the leaf blade of Banana is valuable and thus can be used in cattle feeding.
Pseudo stem:
• According to Research, the pseudo-stem of bananas has a high content of bioactive compounds like phytosterols and dopamine which can be used to cure many diseases and infections.
• It is also good for diabetic patients as it contains high content of fiber (potent antioxidant material) which helps to lower the body sugar level. • Pseudo-stem contains a good amount of cellulose and starch and therefore can be recycled and used as cattle feed.
Banana flower
• Banana flower contains many bioactive compounds which have antimicrobial activities and is effective in treating diseases & infections like ulcers, malaria parasite, etc. • It contains magnesium which acts as a natural anti-depressant. • It is also suitable for pregnant women and lactating mothers.
Banana Cookies Out of Central Core Stem:
—Add the weighed quantity of sugar and margarine mixed in the mixer for about 12 minutes. Then add egg and milk and mix for approximately 30 minutes. —Add wheat flour and banana center core flour into this mixture. —Knead the mixture until dough forms. —Roll on flat rolling boarding sprinkled with flour to a uniform thickness of about 0.4 cm. —Cut circular cookies of 5.8 to 6cm and place them on an oiled tray and bake at 22 ° C for 10-15 minutes, cool to ambient temperature, and pack in high-density polyethylene bags.
#bananadeliciouscookies Food conditioner from overripened Banana:
• Mash the overripened banana and add few drops of olive oil into it. •Your foot conditioner is ready to use. Apply it on your feet for few minutes before washing it off with water.
Banana by-products possess a huge potential that is yet to be explored. India is the largest producer of bananas has a golden opportunity in utilizing its waste by encouraging entrepreneurship ventures and innovations in this sector.
• Grapes
It has been observed that during the cultivation and harvesting of grapes about 5 tons of solid waste is generated per hectare per year and conventional treatment of wind rivers is becoming very expensive day by day, therefore, there is a need to reuse, recycle and recover winery waste. After fermentation waste from wineries, breweries and distilleries can be used as feeding livestock. While most of the pomace is thrown away and discarded, some winemakers use it as fertilizer and compost.
Do you know? The true potential of pomace lies with its polyphenol or seed oil which acts as an antioxidant and can be used in the future for various natural food additives& cosmetics. Products such as citric acid, grapeseed oil, ethanol, and dietary fibers are recovered from grape pomace.
• Apple
Apple pomace is the main by-product generated after Apple juice is extracted and it is commonly disposed of and thrown away as waste. Moreover, its disposal is costly and contributes to environmental pollution. Apple pomace contains plenty of nutritional compounds, such as minerals, phenolic compounds, and dietary fibers. It can be utilized in food products like bakery products, confectionery products, beverages, fibers, etc. Some edible products can also be made from Apple waste such as jam & jelly, pomace sauce, soft drinks.
Smoothing Tea from Apple Peels:
•Steeped in boiling water apple peels along with cinnamon sticks and honey. •Smoothing Tea is ready to drink.
Clean stains from aluminum cookware:
•Take apple peels and add water to them and boil. Simmer it for about 30 minutes. •Use this liquid as cleaning stains from aluminum cookware. As acid inside Apple peels helps in removing stains. Apple pomace which is considered as waste has got great prospects. Its potential is not recognized yet and if utilized properly can convert this waste into gold. If implied on a larger scale it will definitely raise the economy.
#applepomaceheathbenefits Conclusion:
The utilization of wastes, for production of the value-added products, is essential for a sustainable and eco-friendly environment. Furthermore, India’s horticultural production is increasing rapidly across the globe and Horticultural waste has a lot of potentials to create novel business opportunities and in attaining environmental social, and ecological benefits and there is an urgent need for developing consortium between industrialists and researchers.
Always Remember “ There Are Always Flowers for Those Who Want To See Them.”
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Quite enlightening ✨
Amazing keep it up 👏👍
Very nice and knowledgable one 🙏❤️ keep it up.
So informative👍