Carrot and its by-products in the circular economy: a review of valorisation pathways

Abstract

Carrots are one of the most widely consumed vegetables worldwide owing to their nutritional benefits. They offer a wide range of potential uses due to the utilization of all components of the plant. The carrot root, peel, pomace, and leaves are valuable resources that contribute to product development in diverse applications: food processing, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and bioenergy industries. In addition, carrot coproducts, peel, leaves, and pomace, – contain biologically active compounds that can be extracted for a range of value-added products. Besides, carrot peels are rich in fiber and antioxidant compounds converted to powder materials that can be extracted, and hence, they are suitable for application as functional foods and dietary supplements. More significantly, the integration of carrots and their by-products provides an avenue to reduce environmental waste amidst emerging consumers' demand for clean-label and functional products. This review discusses the potential benefits as a way of mitigating waste accumulation and enhancing sustainable practices across industries. It examines how different residues of the carrot, including the roots, peels, pomace, and leaves, can be used to produce value-added products. Furthermore, this review provides a balanced perspective on how these coproducts can be processed to extract valuable compounds from them. Additionally, this review outlines the value of plant-based products derived from carrots and points to the valorisation of whole-carrot biomass as one of the strategies to reduce waste and enhance environmental sustainability.