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Updated: Mar 30, 2026

Scalable Step-by-Step Approach of Sustainable Bioplastic Production from Food Waste
Published on: July 18, 2025
Harnessing fungal fermentation for waste-to-food conversion
Braydon Black1, Alessandra Massa2, Franklin P Lurie1
1Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
Abstract:
One-third of food produced globally is lost or wasted, resulting in significant greenhouse gas emissions and economic losses. New strategies are needed to minimize food and agricultural loss or waste (FALW) and mitigate these negative planetary impacts. Filamentous fungi-a diverse group of microorganisms including molds and mushrooms-offer a unique solution to the FALW problem. These organisms are nature's recyclers, capable of breaking down complex organic biomass, including food matter. Additionally, many fungi are edible and have long been used in food fermentation, suggesting they could be used to convert waste into food. In this review, we discuss emerging strategies across genetics, bioprocessing, and gastronomy that enable the production of sustainable foods from readily available FALW.
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