Valorisation of food waste to produce new raw materials for animal feed

• A reduction of up to 70% of the vegetable waste currently deposited as landfill is possible.
• Vegetable waste has a high potential for use as a raw material for animal feed.
• Vegetable waste is totally safe for use in animal feed.
• The drying process generates the greatest environmental impact during waste valorisation.

This study assesses the suitability of vegetable waste produced by food industry for use as a raw material for animal feed. It includes safety and nutritional viability, technical feasibility and environmental evaluation. Vegetable by-products were found to be nutritionally and sanitarily appropriate for use in animal feed. The drying technologies tested for making vegetable waste suitable for use in the animal feed market were pulse combustion drying, oven and microwave. The different meal prototypes obtained were found to comply with all the requirements of the animal feed market. An action plan that takes into account all the stages of the valorisation process was subsequently defined in agreement with local stakeholders. This plan was validated in a pilot-scale demonstration trial. Finally, the technical feasibility was studied and environmental improvement was performed. This project was funded by the European LIFE+ program (LIFE09 ENV/ES/000473).