Publication:

Revalorisation of broccoli crop surpluses and field residues: novel ingredients for food industry uses

Research on the management of broccoli crop residues and surpluses is critical for improving agricultural practices, optimizing food industrial manufacture, and contributing to better human nutrition. The objective of this study was to obtain novel ingredients based on these residues and surpluses for a wide range of applications in the food industry. The efect of air-drying (60 °C or 80 °C) applied to feld residues (broccoli stalks), mimicking industrial conditions, was compared with dehydration by freeze-drying applied to these same feld residues and to crop surpluses (broccoli whole plant). Thus, diferent broccoli fours were obtained and characterised for technological and biological properties including colour, antioxidant activity, nutrients, total polyphenol content, and content of glucosinolates. Flours from feld residues showed high levels of dietary fbre (≈22% dry weight). Broccoli crop surpluses fours had relevant contents of glucosinolates (≈13 mg/g dry weight). Therefore, within the framework of the circular economy, these fours are proposed to revalorise the two main broccoli crop discarded fractions. Such fours could be used in a realistic and simple way by the agri-food industries interested in the development of healthy and conscience foodstufs, in a cost-efcient manner.