Production of protein-enriched feed using agro-industrial residues as substrates

Abstract

Agricultural and food industry residues, refuse and wastes constitute a significant proportion (estimated to amount to over 30%) of world wide agricultural productivity. These wastes, include lignocellulosic materials, fruit and vegetable wastes, sugar industry wastes as well as animal and fisheries operations refuse and wastes. They represent valuable biomass and potential solutions to problems of animal nutrition and world wide supply of protein and calories if appropriate technologies can be deployed for their valorization by protein enrichment. Technologies available for protein enrichment of these wastes include solid substrate fermentation, ensiling and high solid or slurry processes. Technologies to be deployed for the reprocessing of these wastes will need to take account of the peculiarities of individual wastes and the environment in which they are generated, reprocessed and used. In particular such technologies need to deliver products that are safe not just for animal feed use but also from the perspective of human feeding. The use of organisms that are generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for the protein enrichment and reprocessing of waste will enhance user confidence © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2009.