The Pea Economy: From Waste to Profit

Every year, agriculture produces colossal volumes of waste, which, when deposited in landfills, emit toxic compounds and greenhouse gases, pollute the soil and water. The current "linear" economic model – "produce-consume-dispose" – results in the loss of up to 40% of the world's food and serious damage to the environment.

"The solution to this problem is a transition to a 'circular economy,' where waste is not thrown away but reused, recycled, and returned to production, creating added value," explains Natalia Shelepina. "Based on the above, I proposed a model for the reuse of grain processing waste, using peas as an example."

Professor Shelepina's research focuses on pea processing waste–hulls, germ, chaff, and bran. These by-products are rich in dietary fiber, proteins, lipids, and vitamins, opening up a wide range of potential uses.

The germ and bran can be used to produce food and feed additives, as well as pharmaceuticals. Pea hulls, the main component of which is cellulose, can serve as a raw material for the production of biodegradable packaging, biofuels, bioenergy, and even bioplastics, offering an alternative to fossil fuels. Pea waste can also be used to produce adsorbents and feed products.

The implementation of a "circular economy" system offers undeniable advantages. Environmental benefits include reducing carbon dioxide emissions, slowing global warming, reducing landfill volumes, conserving natural resources, and improving soil fertility. Economic benefits include the creation of new market opportunities and value chains, increased production profitability through raw material savings and lower waste disposal fees. Social benefits also include the creation of new jobs, increased use of local raw materials, and improved well-being and health benefits.

According to the study's findings, the most promising areas in this field are biotechnology, biofuel and bioenergy production, and nanotechnology. In the near future, "full-cycle farms" will become especially important, combining crop production, livestock farming, biogas production, and crop processing into a single waste-free system. While such systems currently exist in Russia, the "Strategy for the Development of the Industrial Development of Production and Consumption Waste Processing, Recycling, and Neutralization to 2030" notes that by 2030, the index of utilization of secondary resources and raw materials from waste in economic sectors is expected to increase to 32.0%. There are also examples of existing enterprises specializing in processing pea waste. For example, in 2018, Eurotechnologies launched a plant in Tolyatti producing pea protein for the feed industry, as well as pea flour and starch. In 2023, the Yubileiny agricultural holding opened the ProteinSib plant in the Tyumen region, producing pea protein isolate, fiber, and starch. The plant is expected to reach its design capacity in 2029.

"A SWOT analysis of the conversion of agricultural waste into value-added products showed that the efficiency of processing largely depends on the quality of the waste," notes Natalya Shelepina. "Nanotechnology is currently being considered as one of the most promising methods for managing grain processing waste. Thermochemical and biochemical processing methods are being proposed, as well as integrated approaches (for example, a combination of anaerobic digestion and microbial fermentation), which will allow, for example, the production of renewable energy in the form of biogas and biochemicals."

The most sustainable technology for managing agricultural waste is biological conversion, which involves the co-production of two or three value-added products.

In the near future, an approach to waste management that integrates various subsystems of agricultural production will be particularly relevant." An example is the Crop-Livestock-Biogas-Crop Recycling (CLBCR) system, proposed by scientists from China and the United States. It comprises three subsystems: crop production, livestock production, and biogas production. Cyclical recycling of agricultural waste links these subsystems and expands the potential for highly efficient recycling.

"Promoting and implementing the circular economy concept in agricultural production is an effective waste management tool that can significantly reduce the negative impact on the environment and open up new horizons for development," emphasizes Natalia Shelepina.

Professor Shelepina's research, "Complex Bioeconomics of Pea Processing Waste," was published in the authoritative scientific journal BIO Web of Conferences, based on the proceedings of the International Scientific Conference on Biotechnology and Food Technology BFT-2025 (Yerevan). The work was conducted as part of the federal program for state support and development of universities "Priority 2030" and the national project "Youth and Children." TSU has been a participant in the program since 2021.