ABSTRACT
The term biomass is defined as any organic matter that is available on a renewable basis, including dedicated energy crops and trees, agricultural food and feed crop residues, aquatic plants, wood and wood residues, animal wastes, and other waste materials. The annual production of biomass is about 1.7–2.0×1011 tons; however, only 6×109 tons are currently used for food and non-food applications. Selection of the biomass feedstock is of paramount importance from both techno- and socio-economical points of view. For ethical reasons, the biomass feedstock should not compete with the food chain. Perspectives originate from the enormous amounts of food-related materials (food ‘losses’, ‘wastes’, ‘by-products’, or ‘wasted by-products’), which are discharged worldwide and the existing technologies that promise not only the recovery but also the recycling and sustainability of valuable ingredients inside food chain. By developing biorefinery concepts, the potential exists to explore higher value options for product streams, therefore increasing the productivity, profitability, efficiency, and sustainability of manufacturing plants.
