Tomato processing produces large quantities of by-products, mainly pomace, which are frequently discarded despite their significant nutritional and functional potential. The study aimed to evaluate the proximate analysis, volatiles, fatty acids, total antioxidant capacity, carotenoids, lycopene, and β-carotene in the pomace of three varieties of tomatoes (two Romanian cultivars and one Mediterranean cultivar) for potential valorization of these by-products. The mineral content in the tomato pomace was found to follow the order (average, mg kg⁻¹): K (13,090) > P (2793) > Ca (1121) > Mg (879) > Na (258) > Fe (12.3) > Zn (11.4) > Mn (7.0) > Cu (3.0). The fatty acid profiles revealed the presence of linoleic acid, oleic acid, and palmitic acids. All cultivars exhibited a high content of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) (55.7–62.3%) and a low content of omega-3 fatty acids (2%). Nutritional quality indices were calculated based on the fatty acid profiles. Analysis of volatile compounds revealed that Mediterranean cultivars were predominantly enriched in alcohols, hydrocarbons, and aldehydes, whereas Romanian cultivars had a high level of terpenes, along with hydrocarbons and aldehydes, contributing to their distinctive flavor profiles. The identified terpenes included β-phellandrene, terpinolene, limonene, ocimene, and cholestanone. All samples exhibited notable levels of bioactive compounds, particularly polyphenols and carotenoids. Additionally, high quantities of lycopene were found in the tomato by-products. The nutritional quality indices indicate that tomato pomace can be utilized as an ingredient to enhance the nutritional value of other products.

In this study, the potential value of dried grape pomace (whole, seed, and skin) obtained from Fetească Neagră (FN) and Tămâioasă Românească (TR) as a source of secondary metabolites was evaluated following hydroethanolic extraction. The total polyphenol, flavonoid, and anthocyanin contents of FN and TR extracts have been determined, along with their antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. The investigation of seeds and the whole pomace FN extracts revealed higher levels of polyphenol, flavonoid, and anthocyanin content in comparison to those extracted from TR. Fifteen polyphenolic compounds were identified through ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) analysis. The most abundant concentrations of catechin and epicatechin were detected in seed and whole pomace extracts derived from both Romanian grape varieties. The antioxidant activity was higher in the whole pomace and skin extracts derived from FN than those derived from TR. The antimicrobial evaluation demonstrated that 15 out of 18 reference pathogenic bacteria exhibited low MIC and MBC values, indicating a strong antibacterial activity of FN and TR extracts. No anti-Candida activity was observed. It can be reasonably deduced that the Fetească Neagră and Tămâioasă Românească by-products represent a sustainable resource for the development of new functional ingredients for the pharmaceutical and food industries, in alignment with the principles of the circular bioeconomy.

Mycotoxins are common natural contaminants of crops and fruits, associated with negative effects on human and animal health. Currently, more than 300 mycotoxins have been identified, but data on their effects and their limits in feed and food are still inconsistent. The European Commission, by directive EC 574/2011, established regulations concerning the maximum limit allowed in farm animals’ feed for aflatoxins, but for all other mycotoxins there are only recommendations (EC 1319/2016) and there are no established limits. Considering their variety and toxic effects, but also the fact that not many details are yet known about the cumulative effects of co-contamination with various mycotoxins, it is necessary to monitor the evolution of their presence in animal feed. The aim of our study was to analyze for a four-year period (2021–2024) the concentrations of six mycotoxins (total aflatoxins-AFT, fumonisins-FB, deoxynivalenol-DON, zearalenone-ZEA, T2/HT2 and ochratoxin (A + B)-OTA), the most frequently encountered in the south area of Romania in poultry, piglets and pig’s complete feed. Our results showed that the maximum highest concentrations were 5.8 ppb for AFT, 4.7 ppm for FB, 1.9 ppm for DON, 62.8 ppb for ZEA, 32.1 ppb for T2/HT2 and 19.7 ppb for OTA irrespective of the type of feed. It should be noted that AFT and ZEA were identified in all samples during the entire monitored period, and the only mycotoxin that exceeded the guidance value was DON, for which the recommendation of 0.9 ppm for pig feed was exceeded. Recent studies demonstrated that sub-chronic and chronic exposure to low concentrations of mycotoxins and specially co-contamination is more common than acute exposure, being able to affect animal health over time by lowering the defense capacity, inducing inflammatory reactions and affecting intestinal health, which in the long term could have important economic consequences. Our survey study can provide important data showing the degree of contamination with mycotoxins in pig and poultry feed including the simultaneous presence of different mycotoxins in this complete feed.

Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus spp.) are a nutrient-rich functional food, packed with protein, fiber, and bioactive compounds, offering a broad range of therapeutic qualities. This paper reports the findings in terms of crude protein, crude fiber, total polyphenols, total flavones, and some phenolic compounds along with the antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of some Pleurotus mushrooms extracts: P. eryngii, P. ostreatus, and P. columbinus. The integration of brewery-spent grains (BSG) into the nutrient media and culture substrate induced a major statistical increase (p < 0.05) for crude protein, total polyphenols, total flavones, and chlorogenic and caffeic acids as well as antioxidant activity. The lowest inhibition concentration IC₅₀ was recorded for P. ostreatus, followed by P. eryngii and P. columbinus. Among the strains, only P. ostreatus and P. columbinus exerted antimicrobial activity against two pathogens: Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes. These results add and provide evidence of oyster mushrooms’ nutritional properties and possible positive effects on human health.

Plant defence elicitors have emerged as pivotal components of sustainable fruit crop protection, aligning with One Health principles by reducing chemical residues while enhancing ecosystem and human health. These exogenous agents—ranging from phytohormones, peptides, and cell-wall fragments to botanical extracts—activate or prime innate immune responses in fruit crops through pattern-triggered immunity (PTI), systemic acquired resistance (SAR), and induced systemic resistance (ISR) pathways. Over the last decade, advances in receptor biochemistry, genomics, metabolomics, and epigenetics have transformed this field. Recent mechanistic advances reveal that oligosaccharide elicitors derived from chitosan and laminarin are perceived by membrane-localised pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) that confer broad-spectrum resistance against fungal, bacterial, and viral pathogens in fruits. By contrast, no specific protein receptor has been identified for harpin proteins, the emerging evidence indicating that harpin perception may occur through direct interaction with plasma-membrane lipids or lipid-associated proteins. The One Health approach is supported by elicitors, biodegradability, minimal environmental persistence, and the ability to reduce synthetic fungicide usage by 30–70%. However, challenges remain regarding batch-to-batch variability, sensory acceptance due to bitter compounds, regulatory hurdles for novel food approvals, and the need for optimised application protocols that consider the fruit genotype and developmental stage. The future integration of nanotechnology for targeted delivery, the artificial-intelligence-driven screening of active molecules, and synergistic combinations with biocontrol agents promises to overcome these limitations, positioning plant defence elicitors as cornerstone tools for resilient, health-promoting fruit production systems.

The efficient degradation of lignin from agricultural by-products is a critical step in the development of sustainable bioprocessing technologies for waste valorisation. Enzymatic degradation of kraft lignin performed with lignin peroxidase (LiP), manganese peroxidase (MnP), and laccase (Lac) was investigated. A response surface methodology (RSM) based on a Box–Behnken Design (BBD) was employed in order to optimise key process parameters including enzyme concentration, lignin concentration, pH, incubation temperature, and activator concentration. The surface plots were used to determine the best conditions for each enzyme in order to better degrade kraft lignin. Therefore, LiP needed a stronger acidic environment and moderate temperature, MnP needed an almost neutral pH and moderate temperature, and Lac needed a neutral pH and higher temperature. This work contributes to the development of smart agricultural waste management practices by combining enzymatic treatments with statistical modelling for process optimisation. This study provides a framework for lignin degradation that can be used as a starting point for diverse lignocellulosic by-product fragmentation, thus supporting a circular bioeconomy initiative in accordance with today’s trends. The optimised enzymatic parameters could help enhance efficiency, enable process standardisation across feedstocks, and support economically and environmentally sustainable industrial-scale lignin valorisation in integrated biorefineries.