The objective of this project is to create a holistic approach towards the utilization of tomato processing by-products. These by-products could be considered valuable if appropriate technical means are applied, delivering valuable bioactive compounds.
The cultivation and processing of tomatoes is the largest agricultural business in Southern European countries. Every year millions of tons of tomatoes are used and large amounts of tomato by-products are treated as low-value industrial waste. The common practice is to use them as animal feed or as low cost natural fertilizer.
However, being a rich source of natural bioactive compounds, tomato processing by-products can be utilized to produce high value-added substances for food, cosmetics, or pharmaceutical applications. The use as animal feed and organic fertilizers can be improved dramatically by the addition of these nutrients.