Postharvest fig waste valorization and emerging fibrous technologies for sustainable active food packaging
Food Bioscience, cilt.83, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 83
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.fbio.2026.109627
- Dergi Adı: Food Bioscience
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, INSPEC
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Fig waste valorization, Bioactive compounds, Biopolymer extraction, Encapsulation and delivery systems, Active food packaging
- Uşak Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
The increasing demand for sustainable food systems and eco-friendly packaging has intensified research on the valorization of agro-industrial by-products. Fig (Ficus carica L.) production results in significant amounts of postharvest waste, such as peels, pomace, seeds, peduncles, leaves, and defective fruits, which are frequently underutilized despite their abundant biopolymer and bioactive compound content. This review first consolidates current knowledge on fig waste composition, green and emerging extraction technologies (ultrasound-, enzyme-, cold plasma-, and supercritical fluid-assisted processes), and the demonstrated performance of active coatings in extending the shelf life of fresh and dried figs. Building on this foundation, the review then critically examines emerging fibrous encapsulation technologies electrospinning and centrifugal spinning and their associated controlled-release mechanisms (diffusion, swelling, erosion, and crosslinking) as prospective tools for fig preservation, given their established performance with structurally analogous bioactive compounds in other food systems. This analysis culminates in a proposed hybrid packaging system that combines fibrous layers with continuous biopolymer coatings to deliver both immediate and sustained antimicrobial protection tailored to the distinct physicochemical requirements of fresh versus dried figs. Finally, environmental, economic, and regulatory considerations are addressed within the framework of circular bioeconomy and industrial scalability. Overall, this review distinguishes established fig-specific valorization strategies from emerging fibrous technologies, providing a roadmap for their future integration into sustainable, bio-based packaging systems.