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* 1 Introduction
* Bioeconomy is an innovative model of the economy that implies the transition of the production model from linear to circular and is based on the sustainable use of renewable sources, taking into account biodiversity and environmental protection [1]. The transition to bioeconomy and circular economy models is critically urgent for mitigating climate change and biodiversity loss, a necessity now embedded in EU legislation through frameworks which mandates food waste reduction and resource circularity [2; 3]. Converting food waste into raw materials is among the pivotal strategies for achieving sustainability goals, enabling resource efficiency and reducing environmental footprints across the food chain. In the EU, food processing waste--specifically from the manufacture of food products and beverages--was estimated at 11 million tons in 2022, representing 19% of total food waste generated that year [4]. One of the widely available and underutilized renewable raw materials is the remaining waste after processing tomato (_Solanum l_.). Globally, approximately 130 million tons of tomatoes are produced each year--including 19,400,000 tons in the EU--resulting in substantial amounts of tomato processing waste (TPW) [5]. The disposal of TPW has substantial economic and environmental impacts. Due to its poor biological and oxidative stability, it is highly susceptible to microbial degradation, leading to the release of greenhouse gases that contribute substantially to global warming and climate change [6]. Moreover, the high costs associated with waste treatment impose a considerable economic burden on the industry. Despite representing an economic loss and posing environmental challenges, TPW has significant potential as a resource due to its high content of bioactive substances that could be utilized in the food and pharmaceutical industries [7; 8]. Although TPW is still primarily used as animal feed, fertilizer, or simply disposed of in landfills [9], its value as a bioresource is gaining increasing recognition. Recent research highlights TPW as a promising source for the recovery of carotenoids, polyphenols, and dietary fiber [10; 11; 12]. In addition to these compounds, TPW is rich in other nutrients, including proteins (15.4-23.7%), lipids (5.4-20.5%), and minerals (4.4-6.8%) [13]. As a result, it is also being explored as an alternative source of macronutrients, especially proteins, usually derived from the seed fraction [14]. The chemical composition of TPW is significantly influenced by the tomato variety as well as the soil and agroclimate characteristics of the geographical region of cultivation [15; 16; 17], which consequently reflects on the chemical composition of TPW [18]. Hence, site-specific compositional analysis is a prerequisite for enabling more precise utilization strategies and optimizing the valorization of TPW. To our knowledge, there are no studies that have yet explored the chemical composition of indigenous Croatian tomato varieties (or remaining TPW) nor the chemical composition of the tomatoes/TPW produced in Croatia. Available research data report on the differences among tomato cultivars, chemical composition of processing by-products, or the importance of growth conditions, but without geographic specificity to Croatia. Therefore, despite the fact that tomato remains a key vegetable crop in Croatia (340,000 t produced annually, and more than 30,000 t processed annually) [5], producing sufficient amounts of TPW, due to a lack of data, it is impossible to accurately estimate its potential for reutilization of TPW within the Croatian context. For the safe reutilization of agricultural waste in various value-added applications, it is fundamental to ensure its sanitary safety in terms of controlling contaminant and residue levels (pesticides, mycotoxins, heavy metals, etc.) that pose risks to human health, animal health, and the environment if not properly managed.