Food Waste Valorization and its Impact on the Environment-A Study

Abstract

Food waste is a global problem that has a significant impact on the environment. In India, food waste is estimated to be around 40 percent of the total food produced. This waste can have a number of negative environmental impacts, including greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution, and land degradation. There are a number of ways to valorize food waste, or to convert it into valuable products. Some of these methods include composting, anaerobic digestion, and biogas production. Valorization of food waste can help to reduce the environmental impacts of food waste, and it can also create new economic opportunities. This research paper presents an analytical study on the environmental impacts of food waste valorization. The study aims to assess the potential benefits and drawbacks of different valorization methods in terms of their environmental performance. A comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach is employed to evaluate the various stages of food waste valorization, from collection and processing to the final utilization or disposal of valorized products. The research also investigates the implications of different valorization techniques on resource utilization, greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption, and waste generation and the current state of food waste valorization in India. It discusses the environmental and economic benefits of valorization, and it identifies some of the challenges that need to be addressed in order to scale up valorization activities.