Creating new revenue streams from the South East’s agricultural waste

A new report highlights the potential for economic growth in South East England by utilising the region’s agricultural and horticultural crops that aren’t currently used for food production.

Published by Growing Kent & Medway, the report demonstrates the significant potential to transform the region’s agricultural waste into high-value chemicals and materials for industries such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and construction. The crop waste may otherwise be heading for landfills or biodigesters.

Compounds found within fruit waste can be used as natural alternatives to chemical food additives and dyes, antioxidants found in hops can be used to develop cancer-fighting drugs, and cellulose from cereal crops can be used to make new and innovative construction materials.

The report establishes the need for a joined-up approach between food producers, scientists and innovative bio-refinery businesses to understand and realise the untapped potential of the waste material.

Dr Nikki Harrison, Director for Growing Kent & Medway, said: “Finding new uses from parts of the plants we grow but don’t currently use not only helps create new markets and revenues for growers and farmers but can also improve the environmental impact of our UK food systems.

“The report highlights the need for a coordinated approach and targeted investment in the region to ensure we have the technology, transportation and processing systems in place to take advantage of the latest science. This would enable us to scale-up the transformation of our waste streams more rapidly into new, valuable products.”

Read the full report: Plant Crop Waste and Valorisation in South East England 

Dr Rob Barker, Associate Professor in Sustainable Chemistry, University of Kent, who contributed to the report, said: “South East England has extensive fruit orchards, vineyards and hop fields, with an abundance of materials that currently go unused we can transform into exciting new products.

“Grape pomace, the pulp left from making wine, contains important compounds called polyphenols which have known health benefits, such as supporting our gut health and anti-cancer properties. Consumers are increasingly aware of ultra-processed foods and seeking fewer synthetic ingredients in the food they eat. Extracting natural compounds from fresh fruit and vegetables to replace chemical additives and food colourants could help meet that growing demand.”

A wide range of potential uses for crop waste is highlighted in the report, from the development of sustainable bioplastics, perfumes, soil amendments and animal feed.

Dr Harrison adds, “This is not about redirecting crops originally destined for our plates to create moisturisers, this is about creating new products that make better use of the whole plant and any produce which can’t be sold, which costs growers money, time and resources to grow. It is about creating a circular economy for the consumer, the growers and our planet.”

Scientists from the University of Kent, the University of Greenwich, Canterbury Christ Church University and Niab contributed to the publication.

• Read the full report, ‘Plant Crop Waste and Valorisation in South East England: The Potential of Horticultural By-products for a Biobased Circular Economy’

Summary reports are also available for specific crop groups including fruit, grape, vegetable, hop, cereal and mushroom waste.