Utilization of Komagataeibacter xylinus for Bacterial Cellulose Production from Food Waste: A Sustainable Approach for Reducing Agricultural Pesticide Use

The widespread and intensive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has led to significant environmental and agricultural challenges, severely impacting soil health, reducing biodiversity, and contributing to long-term ecological imbalances. These adverse effects not only threaten agricultural productivity but also pose risks to human health and environmental sustainability. Therefore, developing eco-friendly and sustainable alternatives to conventional agricultural practices has become a global priority. One promising approach to mitigating these negative consequences is the valorization of food waste for the production of high-value biomaterials, particularly bacterial cellulose (BC). However, despite its potential, the high production costs and relatively low yield of BC remain major barriers to its large-scale adoption. This study focuses on addressing these challenges by exploring the production of BC from food waste using the bacterial strain Komagataeibacter xylinus under non-sterile conditions. By employing a resource-efficient and cost-effective approach, the research aims to enhance the economic feasibility of BC production while simultaneously contributing to waste valorization and circular economy principles. Furthermore, this work presents an environmentally friendly alternative to reduce the dependence on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, potentially improving soil health and promoting more sustainable agricultural practices.