Food waste can be far more valuable than the pile of leftover food left behind after a meal. Scientists are discovering surprising ways to convert discarded materials—from dried beet pulp to coconut fiber processed by centipedes—into useful resources. In four new studies published in ACS journals, researchers show how food waste can provide environmentally friendly tools for agriculture and new sources of useful compounds for medicine.
1. The byproduct sugar can lead to wheat disease.
In a study published in ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food ChemistryResearchers found that sugar beet pulp could help farmers reduce the use of synthetic pesticides. This leftover pulp, which makes up about 80% of the beet after sugar extraction, has been converted into carbohydrates that trigger the plants' natural immune responses. When tested on wheat, these compounds helped protect against fungal infections such as mildew.
2. Composted coconuts support the growth of seedlings.
Coconut fiber crushed by millipedes can serve as a sustainable replacement for peat moss, a material commonly used for planting seedlings but often derived from delicate wetland ecosystems. A study published in ACS Omega studied this “millicompost” and found that when combined with other plant materials, it supported the healthy growth of pepper seedlings just as effectively as traditional peat-based mixes.
3. Radish leaves support intestinal health.
A review in ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry suggests that the often-discarded tops of radishes may be more nutrient-dense than the roots themselves. This peppery green contains plenty of fiber and bioactive compounds, including polysaccharides and antioxidants. In laboratory and animal studies, they promoted the growth of beneficial gut microbes, suggesting they could also improve digestive health in humans.
4. Beet greens provide bioactive ingredients.
Research described in ACS Engineering Au describes a way to preserve the active compounds obtained from beet leaves for use in foods, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Scientists created microparticles by drying a mixture of antioxidant-rich beet green extract and an edible biopolymer. The resulting encapsulated particles not only remained stable but also showed greater antioxidant activity than the uncoated extract, suggesting that this process helps protect the bioactive ingredients from degradation.