Integrated Valorization of Agro-Waste for Bioethanol Production and Multifunctional Bio-Input Formulation Using Microbial Consortia for Sustainable Agriculture

This research addresses the growing environmental burden of agro-industrial and kitchen waste and the overuse of chemical inputs in agriculture by proposing a dual-path microbial biorefinery model. The project aims to valorize sugar-rich waste, particularly pineapple peels, gapes pulp, apple pulp, mix fruit pulp and peels, vegetable waste, kitchen waste, sugarcane bagasse, a major byproduct of food processing industries into two sustainable outputs: Bioethanol as a renewable energy source and microbial bio-inputs as eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. The biomass was subjected to acid and enzymatic hydrolysis, followed by fermentation using Saccharomyces cerevisiae, yielding up to 8.1% (v/v) ethanol. In parallel, a microbial consortium composed of Trichoderma harzianum, Bacillus subtilis. and was formulated using agro-waste carriers like rice husk ash and jaggery. The bioformulation was evalu-ated on maize (Zea mays), showing improved germination, enhanced vegetative growth, and resistance to soil-borne pathogens. This integrated approach not only supports waste-to-value principles and the circular bio-economy but also contributes to climate resilience, soil health restoration, and low-cost sustainable agriculture.