Systematic Review on Sustainable Valorization of Food Waste by Yarrowia lipolytica

Abstract

The escalating generation of global food waste presents both a profound environmental liability and an untapped resource for the circular bioeconomy. This systematic review evaluates the sustainable valorization of heterogeneous food waste streams using the versatile oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica (Y. lipolytica). Following PRISMA guidelines, we analyze recent advancements (2006–2025) in feedstock pretreatment, highlighting enzymatic hydrolysis as the optimal strategy for liberating bioavailable monomers without generating the toxic byproducts associated with thermochemical methods. We detail the unique dual-trophic metabolic capacity of Y. lipolytica to simultaneously assimilate hydrophilic (glucose, glycerol) and hydrophobic (fatty acids) substrates, driving the synthesis of high-value bioproducts ranging from microbial lipids and bulk organic acids to rare sugars. Furthermore, the review synthesizes cutting-edge strain optimization techniques—including CRISPR/Cas9, Adaptive Laboratory Evolution (ALE), and emerging Artificial Intelligence (AI) frameworks—that accelerate bioprocess design and enhance inhibitor tolerance. Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) confirm the platform's viability, demonstrating significant reductions in global warming potential and land use compared to conventional agricultural and petrochemical sources. Finally, we address current bottlenecks, such as substrate toxicity and scale-up constraints, and propose future directions, including synthetic microbial consortia and multi-product biorefineries, to solidify Y. lipolytica as a cornerstone of zero-waste biomanufacturing.