Corn processing generates substantial volumes of agricultural by-products, collectively referred to as corn stover, comprising husks, cobs, stalks, leaves, and silks. Although rich in bioactive compounds, these by-products are still predominantly destined for low-value uses such as landfilling and open-field burning. They contain valuable biomolecules such as lignocellulosic fibers, starch, pectin, proteins, and polyphenols, all of which hold significant potential for applications in agricultural and food industries. These compounds offer opportunities as sustainable alternatives to conventional ingredients and as novel functional additives. However, utilization of corn stover remains focused on biofuel production, limiting the development of applications in broader, high-value fields such as functional food ingredients. This review aims to highlight the opportunities that corn stover presents for developing solutions for food production, which is becoming increasingly important as the global population continues to grow and food demand rises, particularly in regions where access to sufficient and nutritious food remains limited. It also considers the challenges to be solved in order to incorporate corn stover in circular economies, like the impact of pesticide presence on derived products and gaps of emerging strategies for scaling up production in alignment with circular economy goals and the high-value utilization of corn stover.

The present study explores novel alternatives for the exploitation of sugarcane bagasse ash by obtaining and modifying SiO₂ nanoparticles through a green synthesis method. The hydrophilic nature of the nanoparticles was modified using oleic acid. The nanoparticles were characterized using FTIR, FESEM, and DLS, and their performance in the stabilization of Pickering emulsions was also studied. FESEM micrographs of the nanoparticles revealed an irregular and agglomerated structure. EDS confirmed that their main components are oxygen and silicon, and ATR-FTIR spectra demonstrated that oleic acid effectively modified the nanoparticles. Subsequently, O/W Pickering emulsions were fabricated by combining rotor–stator homogenization and probe ultra-sonication, using dodecane and liquid paraffin as model oil phases and SiO₂ NPs as stabilizers. Static light scattering measurements showed that the emulsions exhibited polydispersity, while photographic monitoring confirmed that their physical stability was affected by the concentrations of oleic acid and nanoparticles: concentrations of up to 20.0 wt% and 1.0 wt%, respectively, produced emulsions that remained stable for 7 to 15 days. This study identifies the behavior and challenges associated with novel pathways for the valorization of sugarcane bagasse ash. The stabilization of Pickering emulsions using the obtained SiO₂ NPs highlights their potential in pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food applications.