Improper disposal of coffee-processing by-products can cause environmental pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and resource loss, whereas their reuse in coffee plantations may support sustainable production. This review systematically examines the material properties, stabilization methods, field application pathways, agronomic effects, quality responses, and environmental risks of coffee-pulp-type by-products in cultivation. Relevant studies published up to June 2026 were retrieved from Web of Science, Scopus, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, Google Scholar, and CNKI and qualitatively synthesized along the soil–plant–quality continuum. Current evidence suggests that properly stabilized materials, applied at appropriate rates, can improve soil organic matter, structure, water and nutrient retention, microbial activity, plant growth, photosynthesis, and crop yield in plantations. They may also indirectly influence green bean quality by regulating sugars, amino acids, chlorogenic acids, and caffeine. However, these effects depend strongly on material properties, maturity, application rate, coffee genotype, soil and climatic conditions, and management practices. Excessive or insufficiently decomposed materials may cause soil acidification, phytotoxicity, oxygen depletion, nutrient imbalance, and yield–quality trade-offs. Overall, recycling within plantations can turn processing waste into farm inputs, reinforce on-farm carbon and nutrient cycles, ease disposal burdens, and advance BCG and wider circular-economy principles in practice.
Rongjie Gui, Xinyu Tang, Lin Yan et al.· Agriculture· 0 citations
The growing volume of agro-industrial and food-processing residues has intensified interest in their use as low-cost substrates for microbial bioprocessing. Coffee-derived waste streams, including spent coffee grounds (SCGs), wastewater, pulp, husk, and silverskin, represent abundant but still underutilized biomass resources. This narrative review evaluates their potential as liquid or solid substrates or as components of cultivation media for selected microbial systems, including microalgae, bioremediation- and bioprocess-related bacteria, edible fungi such as Pleurotus spp., and yeasts in the genera Pichia, Kluyveromyces, Saccharomyces, and Yarrowia. The review compares the suitability of individual coffee residues based on substrate composition, pretreatment requirements, inhibitory compounds, process limitations, and reported outputs. Coffee-derived residues can reduce substrate costs, support waste valorization, and partially replace conventional nutrients in microbial processes. However, their broader application is limited by compositional variability, conditioning or hydrolysis requirements, difficulties in process standardization, and downstream processing costs. Current evidence most strongly supports fungal cultivation on SCG-containing substrates, bacterial treatment of caffeine-rich wastewaters, yeast fermentation of hydrolyzed residues, and microalgal use of conditioned liquid streams. The review identifies key research gaps and outlines realistic directions for developing coffee-based microbial bioprocesses within a circular bioeconomy framework.
Aleksandra Piotrowicz, A. Fabiszewska, Karina Jasińska et al.· Molecules· 0 citations
Agriculture plays a vital role in Pakistan’s economy; however, increasing population growth and rapid urbanization have created major challenges related to food security, sustainable waste management, and agricultural productivity. Mushroom cultivation, particularly Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus pulmonarius), offers a sustainable approach to address these issues due to its nutritional value, economic importance, and ability to grow on lignocellulosic agricultural wastes. Agricultural by-products such as wheat straw, cotton compost, spent coffee grounds, and pomegranate peels contain nutrients and fiber components that may support mushroom growth and improve substrate quality. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different substrate combinations on the growth and yield performance of Pleurotus pulmonarius under controlled conditions. Different treatments consisting of wheat straw, cotton compost, spent coffee grounds, and pomegranate peels were prepared and assessed using growth and yield parameters, including mycelial colonization, pinhead formation, fruiting body development, and mushroom yield. The study hypothesized that supplementation of conventional substrates with nutrient-rich agricultural wastes could enhance mushroom production efficiency. The results indicated variations among substrate treatments in terms of growth and production performance. Substrates supplemented with pomegranate peels and spent coffee grounds showed comparatively improved mushroom growth and yield characteristics compared to other treatments. These findings suggest that agricultural waste-based substrate combinations may enhance the cultivation efficiency of Pleurotus pulmonarius while also contributing to sustainable recycling of agro-industrial residues.
Keywords: Food security, urbanization, oyster mushroom, pomegranate and coffee grounds.
M. Akhtar, Nasir Ahmad Khan· Phytopathogenomics and Disea...· 0 citations
Developing innovative green strategies regarding the integration of by-products and waste from the food industry for sustainable agriculture and a circular economy represents a current challenge of great interest. The present exploratory study evaluated four regional potential food-waste-derived biofertilizers under controlled greenhouse conditions. Eggshell powder (EGP), whey, sea buckthorn pomace powder (SBPP), and grape pomace hydroalcoholic extract (GPHAE), used separately or in combination, were tested to observe the response of a relevant crop, Phaseolus vulgaris L. var. communis Auria Bacăului, in terms of vegetative growth parameters and its phytochemical profile. Plant biometric parameters, some representative metabolites (chlorophyll, carotenoids, polyphenolic compounds, and amino acids), and antioxidant activity were investigated using appropriate analytical techniques. The results demonstrated that bean plants grown on soil amended with EGP exhibit high biometric values, validating the efficacy of this by-product as a potential biofertilizer. The mixture of water and GPHAE used on the amended soils with EGP, and with EGP and SBPP, induces a positive effect on the total chlorophyll content accumulated in the bean samples (0.204–0.212 mg/g) compared to similar samples sprayed only with water. The mixture of water, whey, and GPHAE resulted in free amino acid accumulation in beans regardless of soil amendment. The highest synergetic effect on amino acid accumulation was found between this fertigation solution and the soil supplemented with EGP. The overall results of the present work confirm the potential of these regional food by-products and waste as biofertilizers, offering a dual solution for food industry waste management and sustainable agricultural development.
E. Bran, Luminița-Bianca Grosu, Gabriel-Alin Iosob et al.· Sustainability· 0 citations
Burning rice straw in open fields has led to a plethora of concerns, ranging from air pollution to soil carbon losses, posing a risk to human health and disturbing the soil ecosystem. The problem of rice stubble burning has been addressed by adopting different in-situ and ex-situ conservation technologies supported by the government and private companies. Biochar production from rice straw is one such method. Biochar is a carbon-rich porous material produced by the thermochemical conversion of various biomass feedstocks and is used globally to improve soil properties. It plays a crucial role in sustainable agriculture and in environmental health. It has the potential to enhance soil fertility, water retention, and nutrient cycling, while also offering carbon sequestration benefits. However, the adoption of biochar as a soil amendment practice is still challenging owing to the limited understanding of the long-term effects on soil health, the establishment of onsite production facilities, high energy consumption in the production process, and inconsistent results depending on the variable soil types. For biochar to be applied practically for soil improvement in different climatic regions and crop production, it is important to understand the potential effects of biochar on soil properties, the factors that cause soil to change when biochar is added, and the mechanisms of biochar–soil interaction. This review provides an overview of the current research on rice straw biochar and identifies key limitations that will direct future research and policy decisions for its integration into sustainable farming practices. It underscores the potential of biochar to combat global warming, mitigate environmental damage, and its role in reversing the impacts of climate change in line with sustainable development goals.
Himanshi Upadhayay, Sneha Gupta, Srishti Jain et al.· Nature Environment and Pollu...· 0 citations
Biofertilizers are often presented as a more ecological alternative that allows for the utilization of agricultural residues and reduces dependence on chemical fertilizers. This study uses the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology to analyze the environmental implications of producing forage oats on a small scale, considering three fertilization strategies: (1) application of a biofertilizer, (2) application of an inorganic fertilizer, and (3) no fertilization. Two functional units (FUs) were evaluated within a cradle-to-farm-gate system boundary: one ton of oats and one harvested hectare. The results show that while forage oat production using inorganic fertilizers yields a high output (6.20 t/ha of oat dry matter), it also results in the most significant environmental impacts across both FUs (e.g., 262 kg Carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2 eq)/ton and 1620 kg CO2 eq/ha). In contrast, using biofertilizers increases the yield to 7.05 t/ha of oat dry matter while decreasing environmental impacts (e.g., 80.1 kg CO2 eq/ton and 564 kg CO2 eq/ha). Finally, when no fertilization is used, the yield decreases significantly (4.92 t/ha of oat dry matter), while the environmental performance varies depending on the FU considered (e.g., 98.1 kg CO2 eq/ton and 482 kg CO2 eq/ha). This study shows that, compared to inorganic fertilization or no fertilization at all, biofertilizers optimize both production and environmental performance. Therefore, biofertilization is a key strategy for managing residues and reducing environmental impacts in this case study.
O. Aguirre-Córdova, Roberto Valencia Vázquez, G. Pámanes-Carrasco et al.· Agriculture· 0 citations