acknowledgement of the link between bio-waste management, compost quality and
the sustainable biomass production required for food security and the wider
bio-economy is crucial.
5 Agri-food Waste Streams Utilisation for Food
Substitutes Development
Food production and consumption systems are changing. This reflects not only on
the nutritional need, but also on the popularity of diets such as vegan or flexitarian.
Substitution of highly nutritional foods with analogs is gaining momentum. The
research presented by Sergiy Smetana focused on the valorisation of agri-food
waste streams for food substitutes design. A LCA approach (cradle to plate) was
used to assess the environmental impact of different meat substitutes. It showed that
depending on the impact or indicator (greenhouse gases, energy, land use or water
use) different substitutes show advantages and disadvantages. The comparison was
done per weight unit but it needs to be pointed out that different meat substitutes do
not have the same nutritional profile. Further his research analysed the potential of
waste-to-food application and Technology Readiness Level (TRL) for various
biomass sources (e.g. insects, microalgae) in comparison against conventional
animal derived products (e.g. chicken, whey concentrate) [4, 5].
Overall it was concluded that, traditional food substitution produced with
alternative biomass sources is a necessity to design a more sustainable transition to
the new food system. For those considerations of TRL, nutritional profile and
environmental impact are important to better understand their potential application
in the future. State-of-the-art production of meat analogs based on milk, mycoproteins, insects and microalgae biomass are currently not competitive in terms of
environmental impact to the benchmark meat (chicken in this case). However, there
is a high positive potential of agri-food waste and side streams (molasses, distilled
grains, grain brans) application for insect and single cell protein products as food
substitutes. The application of agri-food waste streams is complicated but possible
for the cultured media production. Application of selected agri-food wastes to
produce alternative sources of protein could result in more sustainable source of
proteins able to compete with industrial chicken production.
6 Discussion and Conclusions
The presentations addressed the topic of food waste management in a circular
economy from various angles. Prevention of food waste will be key to meet the UN’s
Sustainable development goals. Any food waste not prevented should be valorised in
a manner such that there is a clear business case, aligning food waste supply with
demand for the valorised products, as presented for the US by use of co-digestion.
Food Waste Management (Sector) in a Circular Economy
131
the sustainable biomass production required for food security and the wider
bio-economy is crucial.
5 Agri-food Waste Streams Utilisation for Food
Substitutes Development
Food production and consumption systems are changing. This reflects not only on
the nutritional need, but also on the popularity of diets such as vegan or flexitarian.
Substitution of highly nutritional foods with analogs is gaining momentum. The
research presented by Sergiy Smetana focused on the valorisation of agri-food
waste streams for food substitutes design. A LCA approach (cradle to plate) was
used to assess the environmental impact of different meat substitutes. It showed that
depending on the impact or indicator (greenhouse gases, energy, land use or water
use) different substitutes show advantages and disadvantages. The comparison was
done per weight unit but it needs to be pointed out that different meat substitutes do
not have the same nutritional profile. Further his research analysed the potential of
waste-to-food application and Technology Readiness Level (TRL) for various
biomass sources (e.g. insects, microalgae) in comparison against conventional
animal derived products (e.g. chicken, whey concentrate) [4, 5].
Overall it was concluded that, traditional food substitution produced with
alternative biomass sources is a necessity to design a more sustainable transition to
the new food system. For those considerations of TRL, nutritional profile and
environmental impact are important to better understand their potential application
in the future. State-of-the-art production of meat analogs based on milk, mycoproteins, insects and microalgae biomass are currently not competitive in terms of
environmental impact to the benchmark meat (chicken in this case). However, there
is a high positive potential of agri-food waste and side streams (molasses, distilled
grains, grain brans) application for insect and single cell protein products as food
substitutes. The application of agri-food waste streams is complicated but possible
for the cultured media production. Application of selected agri-food wastes to
produce alternative sources of protein could result in more sustainable source of
proteins able to compete with industrial chicken production.
6 Discussion and Conclusions
The presentations addressed the topic of food waste management in a circular
economy from various angles. Prevention of food waste will be key to meet the UN’s
Sustainable development goals. Any food waste not prevented should be valorised in
a manner such that there is a clear business case, aligning food waste supply with
demand for the valorised products, as presented for the US by use of co-digestion.
Food Waste Management (Sector) in a Circular Economy
131