Agricultural waste is an invaluable source of natural compounds with remarkable properties that are often under-exploited while a number of industrial and biotechnological applications could be explored. The potential of citrus waste as a source of bioactive compounds with antioxidant and antifungal properties for the development of edible coatings for fruit preservation has been explored. Indeed, to contribute to the valorization of agricultural waste, the development of sustainable solutions for the management of plant wastes, the transition to a circular economy and to extend the shelf life of fruits, this study focused on the evaluation of bioactive compounds from Citrus agricultural waste, notably leaves and stems, as bioconservatives. Thus, the extracted bioactive compounds were incorporated in the formulation of chitosan-based edible coatings that have being tested on cherry preservation with or without prior fruit washing, and in single- or double-layer form.

Results on the effect of incorporating extracts into the chitosan-based film showed a positive impact on fruit quality during storage at 4°C. The coatings reduced mass loss and total soluble solids, while maintaining a pH around 4.

The encouraging results of this study pave the way for numerous research perspectives to further valorize agricultural waste and improve the performance of edible coatings.