Waste-to-Resource: Upcycling Agro-Industrial Wastes for Novel Antimicrobials and Next-Generation Synbiotic Formulations

Agro-industrial wastes, including fruit and vegetable peels, seed residues, spent grains, and other by-products, are abundant and renewable sources of bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, peptides, and other secondary metabolites. Despite their rich chemical diversity and biological potential, these residues remain largely underutilized, representing a significant untapped resource for innovative biotechnological applications. The valorization of these wastes provides a unique opportunity to develop functionalized antimicrobial agents capable of combating multidrug-resistant pathogens and next-generation synbiotic formulations that support microbiota health across humans, animals, and environmental ecosystems. By converting low-value agro-industrial wastes into high-value bioactive products, researchers can simultaneously address the urgent need for novel antimicrobial strategies and the rising demand for sustainable, eco-friendly solutions that enhance microbiome resilience, fully aligned with the principles of circular bioeconomy. This Research Topic invites original research and review articles that advance the scientific understanding and practical application of waste-derived bioactive compounds in antimicrobial and synbiotic research. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to, the following sub-topics:• Green extraction and biotransformation of agro-industrial wastes into bioactive compounds, employing environmentally friendly and scalable technologies.• Characterization and functionalization of waste-derived antimicrobial agents and prebiotic components, including mechanistic studies, stability optimization, and activity profiling.• Development of next-generation synbiotic formulations combining waste-derived prebiotics with probiotics or other microbiota-targeted interventions, designed to enhance microbial resilience, inhibit pathogen colonization, and restore healthy microbiota function.• Synergistic applications with conventional antibiotics or therapeutic strategies to overcome antimicrobial resistance and improve treatment efficacy.• Translational and applied studies, including food preservation, biomedical device coatings, functional foods, and environmental interventions to reduce the spread of resistance genes.• Mechanistic insights into how these compounds and formulations modulate microbial resistance, biofilm formation, quorum sensing, and microbial dynamics in different contexts.Interdisciplinary approaches integrating microbiology, biotechnology, chemistry, and systems biology are particularly welcome, aiming to deliver innovative, practical, and scalable solutions that transform agro-industrial wastes into valuable, health-promoting products. Contributions to this Research Topic will help accelerate the development of novel antimicrobials and next-generation synbiotic formulations, offering impactful strategies to combat antimicrobial resistance, enhance microbiota health, and promote sustainable bioresource utilization. Topic editors: Caterina Pagliarulo, Debaprasad Parai Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/75375/waste-to-resource-upcycling-agro-industrial-wastes-for-novel-antimicrobials-and-next-generation-synbiotic-formulations