The valorization of cheese whey, a rich by-product of the dairy industry that is rich in lactose (approx. 70%), proteins (14%), and minerals (9%), represents a promising approach for microbial fermentation. With global whey production exceeding 200 million tons annually, the high biochemical oxygen demand underlines the important need for sustainable processing alternatives. This review explores the biotechnological potential of whey as a fermentation medium by examining its chemical composition, microbial interactions, and ability to support the synthesis of valuable metabolites. Functional microorganisms such as lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus helveticus, L. acidophilus), yeasts (Kluyveromyces marxianus), actinobacteria, and filamentous fungi (Aspergillus oryzae) have demonstrated the ability to efficiently convert whey into a wide range of bioactive compounds, including organic acids, exopolysaccharides (EPSs), bacteriocins, enzymes, and peptides. To enhance microbial growth and metabolite production, whey fermentation can be carried out using various techniques, including batch, fed-batch, continuous and immobilized cell fermentation, and membrane bioreactors. These bioprocessing methods improve substrate utilization and metabolite yields, contributing to the efficient utilization of whey. These bioactive compounds have diverse applications in food, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and biofuels and strengthen the role of whey as a sustainable biotechnological resource. Patents and clinical studies confirm the diverse bioactivities of whey-derived metabolites and their industrial potential. Whey peptides provide antihypertensive, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and antimicrobial benefits, while bacteriocins and EPSs act as natural preservatives in foods and pharmaceuticals. Also, organic acids such as lactic acid and propionic acid act as biopreservatives that improve food safety and provide health-promoting formulations. These results emphasize whey’s significant industrial relevance as a sustainable, cost-efficient substrate for the production of high-quality bioactive compounds in the food, pharmaceutical, agricultural, and bioenergy sectors.

The revalorization of food processing by-products represents a critical strategy for enhancing resource efficiency and advancing circularity within the food system. This review examines the potential of three major plant-based agro-industrial by-products—fruit and vegetable residues, brewer’s spent grain, and spent coffee grounds—as sources of high-value functional ingredients. These by-products contain bioactive compounds, including dietary fibers, polyphenols, proteins, peptides, oils, and antioxidants, that can be recovered using emerging green extraction and bioprocessing technologies. Conventional extraction methods are progressively being replaced or hybridized with enzyme-assisted, ultrasound-assisted, microwave-assisted, and deep eutectic solvent techniques to improve yield, reduce solvent consumption, and preserve bioactivity. The recovered compounds have demonstrated promising applications as gelling agents (pectin), natural colorants and antioxidants, protein-enriched flours, prebiotic fibers, and bioactive extracts for functional food and nutraceutical formulations. However, challenges persist in standardizing feedstock composition, scaling continuous extraction processes, ensuring safety and regulatory compliance, and generating robust techno-economic and life-cycle assessments to validate sustainability claims. This review synthesizes biochemical composition data, processing pathways, food applications, and regulatory considerations, and identifies research priorities for developing integrated, scalable biorefinery models that valorize food by-products into market-ready functional ingredients.

This is the first study to explore the genetic diversity and population structure of domestic water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) in Germany and their potential relations to herds in other parts of Europe or worldwide. To this end, animals from different herds in Germany, Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary were genotyped and compared to genotypes from other populations with worldwide distribution and open to the public. The pilot study analyzed population structure, phylogenetic tree, and inbreeding events in our samples. In buffalos from Germany, a mixed genetic make-up with contributions from Bulgaria (Murrah breed), Romania, and Italy was found. All in all, a high degree of genetic diversity was identified in European buffalos, and a novel genotype was described in Hungarian buffalos by this study. We demonstrate that European buffalos stand out from other buffalo populations worldwide, supporting the idea that buffalos have not completely disappeared from the European continent during the late Pleistocene. The high genetic diversity in European buffalos seems to be an excellent prerequisite for the establishment of local breeds characterized by unique traits and features. This study may also be considered as an initial step on the way to genome characterization for the sustainable development of the buffalo economy in Germany and other parts of Europe in the future.

Biosecurity is a key element in the battle against antibiotic resistance. The goals of biosecurity are focused not only on the reduction or prevention of the introduction of new diseases from outside sources but also on the reduction or prevention of the movement of infectious diseases on the farm. In this regard, the use of antibiotics can be reduced by simple actions such as physically inspecting animals, testing for bovine diseases, vaccination, or quarantine for at least 3 weeks before mixing with the herd of all new additions. All these examples reduce the risk of diseases with germs from outside. This chapter attempts to synthesize the best biosecurity solutions that can be applied in modern dairy farms.

This research introduces an innovative platform designed to manage greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in mixed farms. Emphasizing the urgent need to address GHG emissions, particularly methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O), the platform targets mixed farming systems where the interplay of livestock and crop production significantly contributes to environmental impacts. Our methodology is grounded in comprehensive data collection, encompassing soil data, energy consumption, and detailed livestock information. Utilizing the Agricultural Internet of Things (AIoT), it facilitates real-time data acquisition and analysis, providing insights into various farm activities’ GHG emissions. This approach allows for precise monitoring and management of emissions from different sources, including enteric fermentation in livestock and fertilizer use in crop production. Results from the application show its effectiveness in offering a clear and interactive visualization of GHG emissions, aiding farmers in making informed decisions for sustainable farm management. The platform’s user management system, coupled with advanced data processing and visualization capabilities, underscores its potential as a vital tool for sustainable farming. Conclusively, Solution4Farming represents a significant advancement in digital agriculture, combining IoT technology with sustainable practices. Though initially designed for Romanian cattle farming, Solution4Farming’s anticipated expansion to various farming environments suggests a broader impact and relevance in sustainable agriculture.

One of the major challenges of animal husbandry, in addition to those related to the economic situation and the current energy crisis, is the major contribution of this sector to atmospheric pollution. Awareness of pollution sources and their permanent monitoring in order to ensure efficient management of the farm, with the aim of reducing emissions, is a mandatory issue, both at the macro level of the economic sector and at the micro level, specifically at the level of each individual farm. In this context, the acquisition of consistent environmental data from the level of each farm will constitute a beneficial action both for the decision-making system of the farm and for the elaboration or adjustment of strategies at the national level. The current paper proposes a case study of air pollutants in a cattle farm for different seasons (winter and summer) and the correlation between their variation and microclimate parameters. A further comparison is made between values estimated using the EMEP (European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme, 2019) methodology for air pollutant emission and values measured by sensors in a hybrid decision support platform for farms. Results show that interactions between microclimate and pollutant emissions exist and they can provide a model for the farm’s activities that the farmer can manage according to the results of the measurements.