Abstract
Food loss and waste (FLW) valorization remains challenging due to mixed properties and composition arising from seasonal and regional variations in food production. Here we examine the capacities of 3D printing for valorizing FLW streams, with a focus on FLW-based bioinks. We consider how waste management practices, 3D printing technology and emerging FLW valorization techniques could address challenges concerning raw material sourcing, improved material printability and suitable mechanical properties. Bioink ingredients incorporating biologically active compounds derived from FLW streams could offer tailored functionalities, supporting food preservation and economic, health and environmental sustainability benefits in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.
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Fig. 1: The landscape of FLW.
Fig. 2: The content versus recovery of cellulose fibres, cellulose nanocrystals, pectin, collagen and gelatin in different food wastes.
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Acknowledgements
D.L. acknowledges support from the Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (ASTIP-TRIC01). M.T. acknowledges support from the Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia, under the Higher Institution Centre of Excellence, Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries programme.
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These authors contributed equally: Meysam Madadi, Hamid Amiri.
Authors and Affiliations
Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
Meysam Madadi & Guojie Song
Key Laboratory for Tobacco Gene Resources, Tobacco Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, China
Meysam Madadi & Dan Liu
Higher Institution Centre of Excellence, Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries (AKUATROP), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, Malaysia
Hamid Amiri & Meisam Tabatabaei
Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
Hamid Amiri
State Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Arable Land in China, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
Junting Pan
School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland
Vijai Kumar Gupta
DCU Life Sciences Institute, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland
Vijai Kumar Gupta
Biodesign Europe, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland
Vijai Kumar Gupta
Department of Agricultural Machinery, Faculty of Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran
Mortaza Aghbashlo
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Meysam Madadi
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3. Junting Pan
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Contributions
M.M. and H.A. are co-first authors. M.M. and H.A. were responsible for data collection, analysis and drafting the original manuscript. J.P. handled data visualization. G.S. ensured data accuracy and relevance. D.L. conceptualized the study and secured funding. V.K.G. contributed to the study’s conceptualization and design. M.A. and M.T. jointly contributed to the conceptualization, supervised the research process and provided guidance throughout. All authors critically reviewed and approved the final paper.
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Correspondence to Dan Liu, Vijai Kumar Gupta, Mortaza Aghbashlo or Meisam Tabatabaei.
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Madadi, M., Amiri, H., Pan, J. et al. Food loss and waste valorization offers a sustainable source of biopolymers in bioinks for 3D printing. Nat Food (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-025-01146-7
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Received:15 October 2023
Accepted:19 February 2025
Published:27 March 2025
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-025-01146-7
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