Valorization of Agricultural Residues Generated from Corn/Maize: Acquiring Valuables from Waste

Abstract

Globally, agriculture produces a large number of food waste and by-products, many of which contain valuable bioactive compounds. Over 140 billion metric tonnes of renewable biomass are produced yearly as a result of agro-industrial operations. Agro-wastes are frequently disposed of indiscriminately or burned off, posing an environmental hazard and contributing to global warming by the production of harmful greenhouse gases. The major preference for avoiding environmental problems while also benefiting the economy and society is to reduce food waste and by-products. An enormous number of leftover organic components are created throughout the maize growing process and are often left on the field, including the cobs that play a minor role in soil conditioning and nutrient source. Agro-wastes are now being explored for valorization via biotechnological pathways to promote ecological stability, value addition to wastes, and encouragement of advancements in circular bioeconomy. The evaluation of the environmental performances of the process is crucial to evaluate the sustainability of the valuation overall, maximizing the environmental value provided. This chapter focuses specifically on assessing the advantages of converting agricultural wastes into naturally derived products and aims to support circular economy practices in agricultural production.