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PERSPECTIVE article

Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol.

Sec. Industrial Biotechnology

Volume 13 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2025.1653367

Biorefining lignocellulose into feed and food: the case of sugarcane and a technology outlook

Provisionally accepted
Fernando CedenoFernando Cedeno1Gabriel PetrielliGabriel Petrielli1Sergio Raposo de MedeirosSergio Raposo de Medeiros2Alexandre BerndtAlexandre Berndt2Thayse HernandesThayse Hernandes1Antonio BonomiAntonio Bonomi1Carlos DriemeierCarlos Driemeier1*
  • 1Laboratório Nacional de Biorrenováveis, Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (Brasil), Campinas, Brazil
  • 2Embrapa Pecuaria Sudeste, São Carlos, Brazil

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This Perspective explores how new technologies can expand lignocellulose biorefineries to include coproducts for animal feed and microbial protein with potential applications in human food. Using the Brazilian sugarcane industry as a case study, the analysis highlights synergies from the spatial coexistence of sugarcane and livestock, as well as economies of scale and product multiplicity in biorefineries. The technology outlook examines selected biomass pretreatments that can generate pretreated biomass with dual use: reactive intermediate for cellulosic ethanol production and ruminant nutrition. However, reliance on biorefined feed requires rebalancing ruminant diets and enhancing nutritional value. Emerging technologies for microbial protein production from biorefining streams are briefly contextualized, considering the potential addition in the diets of livestock and humans. In conclusion, research and development in this domain can unlock key opportunities to enhance the sustainability of bio-based value chains.

Keywords: Lignocellulose, Bagasse, pretreatment, Biorefinery, feed, protein

Received: 24 Jun 2025; Accepted: 05 Aug 2025.

Copyright: © 2025 Cedeno, Petrielli, Medeiros, Berndt, Hernandes, Bonomi and Driemeier. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

* Correspondence: Carlos Driemeier, Laboratório Nacional de Biorrenováveis, Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (Brasil), Campinas, Brazil

Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Supplementary Material