Sustainable Agrifood System
Engineering

Department of Bioresource Engineering,
McGill University


Industrial circular bioeconomy

Under this research theme, we perform an overall-sustainability assessment of product and process systems, identify and characterize co-products and by-products, and simulate and identify pathways within the value chain for upcycling and circularity considering social, environmental, and economic implications. This enables us to advise food process companies on the best pathways to utilize their co/by-products:


Our research activities under this theme include

  • Exploring circular pathways for starch co-product during pea protein extraction.
  • Alternative utilization pathways for apple pomace during fruit juice production.
  • Investigating the sustainability of potential circular pathways for wine co-products.

On-going and Completed Projects

Investigating circular pathways for co/by-product and waste

This project portfolio is focused on investigating potential pathways of converting co/by-products from protein extraction into value-added products. Some of the research includes:

(a) Investigating co-product pathways for single-cell proteins using starch co-product as substrate.

(b) Examining product-process pathways for extracting functional components from cashew apple.

(c) Global bibliometric analysis of current research trends on bio-pesticide.



Simulation and analysis of circular and upcycle pathway

This research portfolio is focused on translating promising lab-scale upcycling and circular to an industrial scale. Some of the projects include: ,

(a) Developing a framework for the upscaling of apple pomace to pectin.

(b) Examining product-process pathways for extracting functional components from cashew apples.

(c) Development and application of a framework in industrial decision modelling in pea protein co-product valorization.