# Valorization of Agri-Food Waste into PHA and Bioplastics: From Waste Selection to Transformation
## 1 Introduction
It explores different ways of integrating urban waste into biorefineries [8]. * **AgriMax. ** Aims to valorize agricultural by-products and crop residues through biorefineers. In addition to converting them into bioproducts, the project focuses on reducing waste in the food supply chain and maximizing the use of agricultural by-products. The project yielded a number of products, including bioplastics, food additives (such as lycopene), and biocomposite fibers. The bioplastic obtained was polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), produced from agricultural and food waste. One of the fibers obtained was for biocomposites, using agricultural waste such as tomato bagasse and cereal husks. These fibers were integrated into bioplastics, creating biocomposite materials for applications such as sustainable packaging and other industrial products [9]. * **WASTE2 FUNC. ** The project yielded the production of biosurfactants, including sophorolipids, and lactic acid. The project aims to create a supply chain that collects organic waste and turns it into high-value-added products, helping to reduce the environmental impact of the agri-food sector [10]. It is evident that environmental concern is not exclusive to Europe. Indeed, other countries have also updated their environmental policies with a particular focus on agri-food waste recovery and environmental sustainability, through the implementation of a multitude of projects and initiatives. The following examples, drawn from a variety of countries, illustrate this point. * **United States. ** In 2024, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) entered into 38 cooperative agreements with the objective of supporting innovative and scalable waste management schemes, with the ultimate goal of reducing and diverting food waste from landfills [11]. * **China. ** One illustrative example is the AgriLoop project, an international collaboration since 2024 that involves 13 Chinese academic and industrial organizations and 22 European partners. The objective of this project is to develop sustainable processes for the conversion of agri-food waste into high-value-added products. A cascade biorefinery approach will be employed to develop sustainable integrated processes for the conversion of agri-food waste (including tomato, soybean, straw, potato, brewery, winery, livestock, and other materials) into high-value, environmentally friendly products. These products will include plant and microbial proteins, polyesters, and other bio-based chemicals for use in food, feed, health, and material applications, particularly within the agricultural sectors [12]. * **Russia. ** The EU-funded SUST-RUS project developed until the end of 2011 a spatial, economic, and ecological model for the assessment of sustainability policies in Russia. The project team collated and verified a comprehensive database comprising social, economic, and environmental data, with the objective of reconciling disparate policy objectives and advancing sustainable development in the country [13]. * **The United Arab Emirates (UAE). ** The management of sustainable agricultural waste has become a prominent issue in recent years. A notable case in point is the project that has been implemented in Hatta since 2024, where approximately 27 tons of agricultural waste is managed on a daily basis. The waste is transported in an appropriate manner to Warsaw's waste-to-energy plant, thereby contributing to a reduction in landfill waste and the generation of clean energy [14]. Therefore, the project bets for an energy valorization instead of a material valorization. All these projects positively impact the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and optimizing the use of natural resources. Consequently, there is a global commitment to transforming the current economic model into a circular one. By focusing on the production of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) from organic waste, these VFAs could reduce the chemical industry's dependency on fossil fuels.