Waste as a Sustainable Source of Nutrients for Plants and Humans: A Strategy to Reduce Hidden Hunger

Teresa Rodríguez-Espinosa, Irene Voukkali, Ana Pérez-Gimeno, María Belén Almendro Candel, J. David Hernández-Martich, Antonis A. Zorpas, Ignacio Gómez Lucas and Jose Navarro-Pedreño ()
Additional contact information
Teresa Rodríguez-Espinosa: Department of Agrochemistry and Environment, University Miguel Hernández of Elche, Av. de la Universidad s/n, 03202 Elche, Alicante, Spain
Irene Voukkali: Laboratory of Chemical Engineering and Engineering Sustainability, Sustainable Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Open University of Cyprus, Giannou Kranidioti 89, Latsia, Nicosia 2231, Cyprus
Ana Pérez-Gimeno: Department of Agrochemistry and Environment, University Miguel Hernández of Elche, Av. de la Universidad s/n, 03202 Elche, Alicante, Spain
María Belén Almendro Candel: Department of Agrochemistry and Environment, University Miguel Hernández of Elche, Av. de la Universidad s/n, 03202 Elche, Alicante, Spain
J. David Hernández-Martich: Botanical and Zoological Research Institute, Faculty of Science, Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo, Ciudad Universitaria, Santo Domingo 10105, Dominican Republic
Antonis A. Zorpas: Laboratory of Chemical Engineering and Engineering Sustainability, Sustainable Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Open University of Cyprus, Giannou Kranidioti 89, Latsia, Nicosia 2231, Cyprus
Ignacio Gómez Lucas: Department of Agrochemistry and Environment, University Miguel Hernández of Elche, Av. de la Universidad s/n, 03202 Elche, Alicante, Spain
Jose Navarro-Pedreño: Department of Agrochemistry and Environment, University Miguel Hernández of Elche, Av. de la Universidad s/n, 03202 Elche, Alicante, Spain

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 16, 1-23

Abstract: Worldwide, over half of all preschool-aged children and two-thirds of non-pregnant women of reproductive age suffer from hidden hunger. This situation may worsen due to the expected increase in the world population and the effects of climate change. The objective of this paper is to conduct a review of the relationship between soil, plants, and humans at the nutritional level, factors that affect the availability of nutrients, and sustainable strategies to reduce hidden hunger from an organic waste utilization point of view. Nutritional deficiency in people begins with nutrient-deficient soil, followed by crops that do not meet humans’ nutritional needs. According to previous studies, most agricultural soils are deficient in nutrients; however, organic residues containing high concentrations of minerals are present in the non-edible parts that are discarded. New opportunities (based on the circular economy strategy) are opening up to take advantage of the nutrient pool of organic residues, such as the preparation of substrates (technosols) or amendments. Their incorporation into the soil may consider various circumstances to ensure the mineralization and bioavailability of nutrients for crops. Several agronomic practices and methods to monitor soil and crop nutrient depletion can be considered among the best strategies to mitigate and reduce hidden hunger through determining which foods and which parts should be ingested, and how to process them to ensure mineral bioavailability.

Keywords: agri-food waste; food security; nutrient deficiency (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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