This contributed volume deals with problems associated with huge biomass generated by crop plants and the processing of fruits and food materials. The main focus is to address problems associated with organic residues from agro-industrial processes. This book aims to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date account of various processes involved in the valorization of this huge biomass available from agro-industrial processes and obtaining valuable primary and secondary metabolites which will have an impact on the rural economy. Decrease in forest cover associated with the production of agriculture-based waste resulting in pollutants like smoke by burning of residual crops, waste from breweries, food processing, pruning of bushes and trees, and from industries producing proteins, vegetable oils and fruit juices etc. This book is of interest to teachers, researchers, climate change scientists, agriculture scientists and policymakers. The book brings out the latest reading material for botanists, biotechnologists, environmentalists, biologists, policymakers and NGOs working for environmental protection.

Residues from agriculture and the food industry consist of many and varied wastes, in total accounting for over 250 million tonnes of waste per year in the UK alone. Biotechnological processing of these residues would allow these waste products to be used as a resource, with tremendous potential. An extensive range of valuable and usable products can be recovered from what was previously considered waste: including fuels, feeds and pharmaceutical products. In this way Biotechnology can offer many viable alternatives to the disposal of agricultural waste, producing several new products in the process. This book presents up-to-date information on a biotechnology approach for the utilisation of agro-industrial residues, presenting chapters with detailed information on materials and bioconversion technology to obtain products of economic importance: The production of industrial products using agro-industrial residues as substrates The biotechnological potential of agro-industrial residues for bioprocesses Enzymes degrading agro-industrial residues and their production Bioconversion of agro-industrial residues. Written by experts in Biotechnological processing of Agro-Industrial Residues, this book will provide useful information for academic researchers and industry scientists working in biotechnology, waste management, agriculture and the food industry.

Agriculture and industry are the two most important economic sectors for various countries around the globe, providing millions of jobs as well as being the main source of income for these countries. Nevertheless, with the increasing demand for agricultural and industrial produce, huge amounts of waste are also being produced. Without proper management, this waste (both liquid and solid) poses a serious threat to overall environmental quality, mainly due to its toxicity and slow degradation processes. Current approaches are effective but would normally require huge capital investments, are labour intensive and generate potential hazardous by-products. As such, there is a need for alternative approaches that are cheaper, easier-to-handle and have a minimum potential impact on environmental quality. This book presents up-to-date approaches using biological techniques to manage the abundance of waste generated from agricultural and industrial activities. It discusses techniques such as bioconversion, biodegradation, biotransformation, and biomonitoring as well as the utilization of these wastes. A number of chapters also include individual case studies to enhance readers’ understanding of the topics. This comprehensive book is a useful resource for anyone involved in agricultural and industrial waste management, green chemistry or biotechnology. It is also recommended as a reference work for graduate students and all agriculture and biotechnology libraries.

Agricultural waste can be a source of energy, fertilizer, and other inputs at farm and industrial levels. Handling and managing agricultural waste are challenging tasks worldwide, especially in the context of environmental pollution control and sustainable agriculture. Thus, efficient management in terms of reuse, recycling, and reduction of agricultural waste is principally needed not only for the green economy but also for farmers’ profitability. Agricultural Waste – New Insights provides an understanding of agricultural waste production and management, discussing crop residue, biodegradables, biomass, composting and vermiculture, agricultural waste economics, air pollution, environmental safety, waste management and handling, on-farm waste reuse, and agricultural waste value addition. It provides key aspects of emerging technologies and their applications in the domain of agriculture waste management.