Optimising agri-food supply chains: Managing food waste through harvest and side-stream valorisation

The importance of reuse and valorisation as a means to enhance sustainable production practices, by reducing waste streams through the recovery of resources in the chain, is increasingly recognised. Confronted with new challenges in the context of climate change, the food and agricultural sector stands to benefit, in particular, from valorising (edible) side streams, such as unharvested crop parts and vegetable peels, that are often overlooked by consumers. Focusing on side-stream valorisation strategies within food processing facilities, this research develops a mixed-integer optimisation model to support decision-makers in determining an optimal product portfolio and processing configuration. This model is solved for two key performance indicators, considering both the economic and the environmental impact, in the form of total profit and exergy loss. Examining potential trade-offs between the two objectives, we present a real-life case study from a carrot processing company. We explore several scenarios and case settings to investigate the impact of various factors on the potential of side-stream valorisation. The findings from our analysis demonstrate that side-stream valorisation seems to be generally well aligned with profit maximisation, while it is not always beneficial from an environmental impact perspective.