Food and Forest Industry Waste Reuse Using Mixed Microflora
Elias Hakalehto1,2,3, Anneli Heitto3, Frank Adusei-Mensah2,3
1University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Advances in Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology
|December 6, 2024
Summary
Microbial biocatalysts transform organic waste streams into valuable products, enabling sustainable, fossil-free industries. This approach, termed "Industry Like Nature®," utilizes biorefineries to create chemicals, food, energy, and fertilizers from side streams.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology and Industrial Microbiology
- Sustainable Chemistry
- Biorefining
Background:
- Organic raw materials, particularly industrial, agricultural, and forestry side streams, represent affordable and renewable substrates.
- Microbial communities can be harnessed as biocatalysts for developing sustainable industrial processes.
- The concept of
Purpose of the Study:
- To present the fundamental principles of the
Main Methods:
- Utilizing microbial communities as biocatalysts in designed industrial processes.
- Adapting natural bioprocesses for industrial applications to achieve sustainability.
- Implementing the
Main Results:
- Demonstrated the potential for 100% sustainable industries through microbial catalysis.
- Enabled the fossil-free production of valuable chemicals, food, feed, energy, gases, and soil amendments from food and forest industry side streams.
- Validated the
Conclusions:
- Microbial biocatalysis is key to achieving sustainable industrial practices by valorizing organic side streams.
- The
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