Livestock-mediated food waste conversion: Advancing resource efficiency and sustainable agriculture

Ozturk M., Siddique I., Gul A., Yalcin I. E., ALTAY V., ÜNAL B. T.

NOTULAE BOTANICAE HORTI AGROBOTANICI CLUJ-NAPOCA, vol.53, no.3, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)

Abstract

Food waste throughout the agri-food supply chain has significant environmental and economic consequences on a global scale. To address this issue, upcycling food waste through livestock is a promising approach that can help achieve sustainability goals. The upcycling of food waste via livestock involves feeding food waste to animals, such as pigs or chickens, instead of disposing of it as waste. This approach offers multiple benefits, including reducing the amount of food waste that ends up in landfills, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and producing a source of protein, offering a sustainable solution to the food waste problem. Through utilizing food waste as a resource for animal feed, this process adds value while simultaneously tackling environmental concerns linked to food waste. Furthermore, this process can generate income for farmers and lower the cost of animal feed. However, there are regulatory and safety concerns associated with the use of food waste as animal feed, necessitating strict guidelines and monitoring. Despite the challenges, upcycling food waste via livestock provides a promising solution to food waste management issues. It provides a win-win solution for both the environment and economy, presenting a promising way forward for the future of agriculture by minimizing food waste, promoting sustainability in the food industry, and offering a new source of animal feed. This study argues that upcycling food waste through livestock farming has significant potential for minimizing food waste, promoting sustainability in the food industry, and providing a new source of animal feed. It provides a win-win solution for both the environment and economy, representing a promising way forward for the future of agriculture.