Food industry side streams: an unexploited source for biotechnological phosphorus upcycling

The phosphorus shortage is an unavoidable challenge that requires strategies to replace phosphorus sourced from ores. Food industry by-products are an unscoped resource for sustainable phosphorus recovery. Recent advances include biotechnological phosphorus upcycling from phytate-rich plant residues to polyphosphate as a food additive. The valorization of by-products such as deoiled seeds or brans additionally provides low-phosphorus feed and thereby minimizes the environmental burden. Phytate reduction in a cereal-rich diet by adding enzyme formulation is a further strategy that limits its antinutritive effect. However, sustainable P-management depends on phytases that have been customized and enhanced for thermostability and specific activity. The circular phosphorus economy is driven by emerging value chains and maturing phosphorus recovery technologies for market entry.