Vegetable residue valorization for soil health and climate resilience

Food waste is a critical global challenge that threatens environmental sustainability. Vegetable residue, a key component, is often disposed through harmful methods such as landfilling and incineration which significantly increase resource loss and degrade the ecological system. Sustainable and eco-...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Kwesi Ewudzie Quansah, Richard Asah-Asante, Fan Xudong, Shen Xinran, Li Ming, Wenjin Di, Ma Xin, Wang Jizhong, Gao Miao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Soil Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoil.2025.1624486/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849338725731926016
author Kwesi Ewudzie Quansah
Kwesi Ewudzie Quansah
Richard Asah-Asante
Richard Asah-Asante
Fan Xudong
Shen Xinran
Li Ming
Li Ming
Li Ming
Wenjin Di
Ma Xin
Wang Jizhong
Gao Miao
Gao Miao
author_facet Kwesi Ewudzie Quansah
Kwesi Ewudzie Quansah
Richard Asah-Asante
Richard Asah-Asante
Fan Xudong
Shen Xinran
Li Ming
Li Ming
Li Ming
Wenjin Di
Ma Xin
Wang Jizhong
Gao Miao
Gao Miao
author_sort Kwesi Ewudzie Quansah
collection DOAJ
description Food waste is a critical global challenge that threatens environmental sustainability. Vegetable residue, a key component, is often disposed through harmful methods such as landfilling and incineration which significantly increase resource loss and degrade the ecological system. Sustainable and eco-friendly valorization techniques are solutions needed to address this challenge. This review explores the valorization of vegetable residue within a circular agriculture framework, emphasizing its potential to enhance soil health, reduce reliance on synthetic fertilizers, and support climate resilience. Vegetable residues, rich in organic matter, can be valorized through composting, vermicomposting, anaerobic digestion, biochar production, direct application, or integrated system (biochar + compost) to produce nutrient-rich soil amendments and renewable energy. These approaches enhance soil fertility, microbial activity, water retention, and carbon sequestration. However, challenges persist, including heavy metal contamination, technical constraints, and adoption barriers. Recent advances, such as microbial inoculants, enzyme-based pretreatment, integrated residue management systems, and emerging AI and low-energy technologies offer promising solutions to address these limitations. This review systematically synthesizes current practices, emerging innovations, and policy frameworks to advance sustainable residue utilization and agricultural transformation.
format Article
id doaj-art-e24c74ac7ecf4e35a08f260aca6f3686
institution Kabale University
issn 2673-8619
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Soil Science
spelling doaj-art-e24c74ac7ecf4e35a08f260aca6f36862025-08-20T03:44:18ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Soil Science2673-86192025-08-01510.3389/fsoil.2025.16244861624486Vegetable residue valorization for soil health and climate resilienceKwesi Ewudzie Quansah0Kwesi Ewudzie Quansah1Richard Asah-Asante2Richard Asah-Asante3Fan Xudong4Shen Xinran5Li Ming6Li Ming7Li Ming8Wenjin Di9Ma Xin10Wang Jizhong11Gao Miao12Gao Miao13School of Life Science and Food Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huai’an, ChinaDepartment of Biochemical Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huai’an, ChinaSchool of Life Science and Food Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huai’an, ChinaDepartment of Biochemical Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huai’an, ChinaSchool of Life Science and Food Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huai’an, ChinaSchool of Life Science and Food Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huai’an, ChinaSchool of Life Science and Food Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huai’an, ChinaInstitute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, ChinaKey Laboratory of Microbial Resources Collection and Preservation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Life Science and Food Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huai’an, ChinaAgricultural Information Institute of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Life Science and Food Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huai’an, ChinaInstitute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, ChinaKey Laboratory of Microbial Resources Collection and Preservation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, ChinaFood waste is a critical global challenge that threatens environmental sustainability. Vegetable residue, a key component, is often disposed through harmful methods such as landfilling and incineration which significantly increase resource loss and degrade the ecological system. Sustainable and eco-friendly valorization techniques are solutions needed to address this challenge. This review explores the valorization of vegetable residue within a circular agriculture framework, emphasizing its potential to enhance soil health, reduce reliance on synthetic fertilizers, and support climate resilience. Vegetable residues, rich in organic matter, can be valorized through composting, vermicomposting, anaerobic digestion, biochar production, direct application, or integrated system (biochar + compost) to produce nutrient-rich soil amendments and renewable energy. These approaches enhance soil fertility, microbial activity, water retention, and carbon sequestration. However, challenges persist, including heavy metal contamination, technical constraints, and adoption barriers. Recent advances, such as microbial inoculants, enzyme-based pretreatment, integrated residue management systems, and emerging AI and low-energy technologies offer promising solutions to address these limitations. This review systematically synthesizes current practices, emerging innovations, and policy frameworks to advance sustainable residue utilization and agricultural transformation.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoil.2025.1624486/fullvegetable residuesoil healthcircular agricultureclimate resilienceresidue management
spellingShingle Kwesi Ewudzie Quansah
Kwesi Ewudzie Quansah
Richard Asah-Asante
Richard Asah-Asante
Fan Xudong
Shen Xinran
Li Ming
Li Ming
Li Ming
Wenjin Di
Ma Xin
Wang Jizhong
Gao Miao
Gao Miao
Vegetable residue valorization for soil health and climate resilience
Frontiers in Soil Science
vegetable residue
soil health
circular agriculture
climate resilience
residue management
title Vegetable residue valorization for soil health and climate resilience
title_full Vegetable residue valorization for soil health and climate resilience
title_fullStr Vegetable residue valorization for soil health and climate resilience
title_full_unstemmed Vegetable residue valorization for soil health and climate resilience
title_short Vegetable residue valorization for soil health and climate resilience
title_sort vegetable residue valorization for soil health and climate resilience
topic vegetable residue
soil health
circular agriculture
climate resilience
residue management
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoil.2025.1624486/full
work_keys_str_mv AT kwesiewudziequansah vegetableresiduevalorizationforsoilhealthandclimateresilience
AT kwesiewudziequansah vegetableresiduevalorizationforsoilhealthandclimateresilience
AT richardasahasante vegetableresiduevalorizationforsoilhealthandclimateresilience
AT richardasahasante vegetableresiduevalorizationforsoilhealthandclimateresilience
AT fanxudong vegetableresiduevalorizationforsoilhealthandclimateresilience
AT shenxinran vegetableresiduevalorizationforsoilhealthandclimateresilience
AT liming vegetableresiduevalorizationforsoilhealthandclimateresilience
AT liming vegetableresiduevalorizationforsoilhealthandclimateresilience
AT liming vegetableresiduevalorizationforsoilhealthandclimateresilience
AT wenjindi vegetableresiduevalorizationforsoilhealthandclimateresilience
AT maxin vegetableresiduevalorizationforsoilhealthandclimateresilience
AT wangjizhong vegetableresiduevalorizationforsoilhealthandclimateresilience
AT gaomiao vegetableresiduevalorizationforsoilhealthandclimateresilience
AT gaomiao vegetableresiduevalorizationforsoilhealthandclimateresilience