Articles
Cactus pear (Opuntia spp.) crop applications and emerging biopolymer innovations
Article number
1380_16
Pages
129 – 134
Language
English
Abstract
With global trends indicating a clear shift toward more sustainable agricultural processes and food production, the demands for emerging natural, plant-based crop production is on the increases.
This has left the horticultural sector facing an abundance of challenges, as well as, potential new opportunities.
In this paper the cactus pear is evaluated for its current applications and successes as an alternative crop while highlighting its potential feasibility and advantages for upscaled farming practices.
Furthermore, innovative uses for cactus pear biomass is also evaluated as an emerging biopolymer in the development of biodegradable packaging.
The cactus pear offers unique properties allowing for multiple applications in the food and health sector, medical, cosmetics and even packaging and textile industries.
It is therefore noted that with potential upscaled farming practices, the cactus pear could address sustainability and the global water crisis due to its exceptional geographic adaptability and diversity.
By-products from the cactus pear biomass production have also become an area of focus.
Through green chemistry normal waste products from the crop production has led to the formation of ecologically friendly biodegradable packaging.
These packaging solutions are showing potential to aid in the move toward the reduction of single usage plastic in the food industry.
Evaluating the diverse applications of the cactus pear could further motivate its upscaled crop production and offer additional revenue income potential to farms while promoting sustainability and utilization of less viable agricultural land.
Additionally, its potential to be used in the development of, low-cost biodegradable packaging could further advocate for its upscaled cultivation.
This has left the horticultural sector facing an abundance of challenges, as well as, potential new opportunities.
In this paper the cactus pear is evaluated for its current applications and successes as an alternative crop while highlighting its potential feasibility and advantages for upscaled farming practices.
Furthermore, innovative uses for cactus pear biomass is also evaluated as an emerging biopolymer in the development of biodegradable packaging.
The cactus pear offers unique properties allowing for multiple applications in the food and health sector, medical, cosmetics and even packaging and textile industries.
It is therefore noted that with potential upscaled farming practices, the cactus pear could address sustainability and the global water crisis due to its exceptional geographic adaptability and diversity.
By-products from the cactus pear biomass production have also become an area of focus.
Through green chemistry normal waste products from the crop production has led to the formation of ecologically friendly biodegradable packaging.
These packaging solutions are showing potential to aid in the move toward the reduction of single usage plastic in the food industry.
Evaluating the diverse applications of the cactus pear could further motivate its upscaled crop production and offer additional revenue income potential to farms while promoting sustainability and utilization of less viable agricultural land.
Additionally, its potential to be used in the development of, low-cost biodegradable packaging could further advocate for its upscaled cultivation.
Authors
B. van Rooyen, M. De Wit, G. Osthoff, J. van Niekerk
Keywords
cactus pear, sustainability, economic benefits, social factors, drought tolerance, food safety, waste products
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