Upcycling of agroindustrial byproducts from the Amazônia and Cerrado

microreview of technologies and socioeconomic impacts

Abstract

This work, focused on the Amazônia and Cerrado biomes, addresses the environmental challenge and economic opportunity represented by the growing volume of agro-industrial byproducts, whose inadequate disposal is problematic. Upcycling, which transforms waste into higher-value products, presents itself as a central strategy for the bioeconomy and sustainable development. With the aim of mapping and analyzing technological routes for upcycling byproducts from the açaí, cupuaçu, Brazil nut, and pequi supply chains, evaluating local socioeconomic impacts, and identifying knowledge gaps, a review was conducted following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Data from searches conducted in the Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were qualitatively synthesized. The results identified promising technological routes: for açaí, the extraction of oil rich in fatty acids with pharmacological potential and the production of functional flour stand out; cupuaçu allows the obtaining of protein isolates from the seed with up to 64.33% protein; Brazil nut husks are viable for the production of high-quality activated carbon; and pequi peel, although incipiently, shows promise for functional flours. Socioeconomically, upcycling generates local income and aligns with the objectives of sustainable development, despite infrastructure and public policy barriers. It is concluded that the potential is vast, but the transition from laboratory to industrial scale and the integration of these innovations in communities require investments in green technologies, economic feasibility studies, and support policies that link research to local needs.