The LIFE BAQUA project, developed by the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain, aims to optimize waste management from banana production through an innovative extraction process to obtain fiber to reinforce plastic materials and as biodegradable bags and pulp that can be used as an additive for fish feed.

Banana fiber can be extracted from banana pseudostems producing pulp as a byproduct of fiber extraction. Researchers tested banana pulp and other banana crop byproducts such as banana flower as feed additives on tilapia and European seabass.

The study found no presence of antioxidants in the banana pulp, so they used the banana flower as an additive with antioxidants. The pulp was added to the fish feed to replace other raw materials, in particular, corn flour, which is also used in human consumption. This combination rich in polyphenols has promising results and would be an option to obtain more sustainable diets in aquaculture.

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