Utilization of Fruit Processing Waste as a Source of Prebiotics and Immunostimulants for the Development of Healthy and Improved Aquaculture Feeds

The fruit processing industries in the Philippines are thriving, however, these industries produced a significant amount of waste, if unutilized they can cause environmental hazards such as organic pollution. Pomace and peelings are common waste produced and are discarded after fruit processing. These waste products are rich in fiber and still contain a significant amount of bioactive compounds. Thus, they can be a good source of prebiotics and antioxidants that can improve the health and growth of the organism. Hence, these wastes can be utilized as feed ingredients to develop healthy and improved aquaculture feeds. This proposed research project plans to develop aquaculture feeds for tilapia and/or shrimp to utilize pineapple and calamansi wastes which are abundant in Mindanao. Furthermore, there are already established fruit-processing industries for both commodities thus supply of these fruit-processing by-products is readily available. Further, the present study will also determine the nutritional profile and antioxidant activities of fruit waste. Further the project will also utilize and optimize the fermentation process to improve nutrient availability and minimize anti-nutritional factors present in the fruit waste. The study will also determine the optimum inclusion rate of fermented and unfermented fruit waste in the diet of saline tilapia and shrimp, as well as evaluate their physiological effect on the cultured organism if they can modulate immune response as well increase the beneficial microorganism in the gut.