ABSTRACT
256The use of tomato by-products promotes the development oriented toward sustainable transformation of natural resources that complement the production chain, creating a new industrial cluster in which this waste might be used for processing into products of high value-added technologies. This creates an opportunity of technological diversification and creates a favorable environment for the communities surrounding the processing plants of fruits and vegetables. Moreover, the products generated can meet the market demand for ingredients whose nutritional and functional characteristics classify them in the market for nutraceuticals that currently have an apparent acceptance by society and its consumption is increasing. It is necessary to develop low-cost and high-impact alternatives to meet business needs and reduce environmental problems. Here, we discuss the feasibility and potential utilization of by-products derived from tomato industrialization, with emphasis in the use of the whole residual biomass as a dietary fiber, a functional ingredient in global demand. Addressing the problems of environmental impact of waste processing, a low-cost operation would be explored to add value to the processing chain and contribute to human health since might represent an alternative of fiber source diversification as well as improved biological functionality.
