We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Valorization of Seafood Processing Byproducts for Sustainable Fertilization: Opportunities and Food Safety Considerations in Agriculture 4.0
AI summary Read the abstract
This review explores the potential of using seafood processing waste — fish offal, shellfish shells, and aquaculture effluents — as natural fertilizers in modern farming systems. While these byproducts are rich in nutrients and could reduce reliance on synthetic fertilizers, the paper also flags important food safety concerns, including the presence of microplastics in marine-derived materials that could be introduced to agricultural soils. The authors conclude that seafood-derived fertilizers are promising for circular agriculture, but careful screening for contaminants including microplastics is essential before widespread adoption.
The transition toward sustainable and circular bioeconomies in Agriculture 4.0 demands fertilization strategies that reduce environmental impacts while maintaining agronomic productivity. This article presents a structured narrative review of peer-reviewed literature integrating evidence across waste management, soil science, food safety, and regulatory frameworks to evaluate the potential of seafood processing byproducts including fish offal, shellfish residues, and aquaculture effluents as nutrient-rich fertilizers. These materials provide nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, and essential micronutrients and may contribute to nutrient recycling within precision and resource-efficient agricultural systems. Evidence from diverse cropping contexts indicates that seafood waste-derived fertilizers can improve crop yield, nutrient use efficiency, and soil biological activity under site-specific conditions. Biological processing methods, including composting, enzymatic hydrolysis, and fermentation, are examined for their roles in enhancing nutrient bioavailability and reducing undesirable constituents. Particular emphasis is placed on food safety considerations, including heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants, antimicrobial resistance, pathogens, and microplastics, with discussion of speciation-based risk assessment and mitigation strategies such as thermal treatment, microbial screening, and compliance with international standards. Regulatory fragmentation, economic feasibility, and lifecycle environmental implications are also critically assessed. Emerging digital tools, including Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled nutrient monitoring and artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted compost optimization, are discussed as enabling technologies for integrating seafood-derived biofertilizers into smart farming systems. Overall, this interdisciplinary synthesis highlights the potential contribution of seafood waste valorization to circular nutrient management, environmental stewardship, and sustainable food production.
More Papers Like This
Quality and safety assessment of biobased fertilizers from fishery waste and by-products
AI summary Read the abstract
This doctoral thesis evaluates biobased fertilizers derived from fishery waste, assessing their nutrient quality, safety, and environmental effects in agricultural settings — it is not a microplastics research paper, though it touches on sustainability themes in food systems.
Biosolids-derived fertilisers: A review of challenges and opportunities
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines the use of treated sewage sludge (biosolids) as farm fertilizer and the concern that it introduces microplastics and persistent organic contaminants into agricultural soil. While biosolids provide valuable nutrients for crops, the microplastics they contain can accumulate in soil over time and potentially enter the food chain. The authors discuss thermal processing and nutrient recovery technologies that could help remove contaminants while preserving the fertilizer value of biosolids.
Microplastic: pollution issue and seafood security
AI summary Read the abstract
This review explains how microplastics enter the marine environment and contaminate seafood, summarizing evidence of their presence in fish and shellfish consumed by humans. The authors highlight seafood safety concerns and call for better regulation and monitoring of microplastic contamination in food systems.
Exploring the Complexities of Seafood: From Benefits to Contaminants
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines the dual nature of seafood as both a nutritional powerhouse and a potential source of harmful contaminants, including microplastics, heavy metals, and pathogens. While seafood provides essential omega-3 fatty acids and protein, contamination from microplastics and other pollutants can offset these benefits and pose health risks. The authors call for better monitoring and safety standards to ensure that the health benefits of eating seafood are not undermined by environmental contamination.
Do contaminants compromise the use of recycled nutrients in organic agriculture? A review and synthesis of current knowledge on contaminant concentrations, fate in the environment and risk assessment
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines whether recycled nutrients from waste streams, such as sewage sludge and compost, introduce harmful contaminants including microplastics into organic farmland. While levels of heavy metals and many pollutants have decreased in European waste streams, microplastic contamination in agricultural soil remains widespread and poorly understood. The review highlights that spreading waste-derived fertilizers on farmland is a significant pathway for microplastics to enter the food production system.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.