Turning agricultural waste into smarter livestock nutrition tools
A new study has found that biochar made from agricultural waste such as chestnut shells and vine prunings could help deliver beneficial compounds more effectively in animal feed, offering a promising alternative to antibiotics in livestock production.
The research, published in Biochar, explores how biochar can act as a carrier for lysozyme, a natural antimicrobial enzyme commonly found in egg whites. Scientists developed a simple and environmentally friendly method to attach lysozyme onto biochar particles and tested how well the system works under conditions that mimic the digestive tract of young pigs.
“Our goal was to design a sustainable delivery system that protects sensitive bioactive molecules in the stomach and releases them where they are most effective, in the intestine,” said the study’s lead author. “Biochar offers a unique combination of porosity, surface chemistry, and stability that makes it an ideal candidate.”
Antimicrobial resistance is a growing global concern, driven in part by the overuse of antibiotics in both human medicine and agriculture. In livestock farming, especially during stressful stages such as weaning, animals are vulnerable to disease and often require antibiotic treatments. Functional feed additives like lysozyme have emerged as promising alternatives, but their effectiveness is limited because they can degrade in the acidic environment of the stomach.
To address this challenge, the research team tested two types of biochar produced from waste biomass. One was derived from chestnut shells and the other from vine pruning residues. Both materials were shown to effectively bind lysozyme using a mild, water-based process.
The study found that the biochar carriers could load significant amounts of lysozyme while maintaining its stability. More importantly, release experiments revealed that the system behaves differently under varying pH conditions. At low pH, similar to the stomach, only a very small amount of lysozyme was released. At neutral pH, similar to the intestine, release increased, indicating that the biochar helps protect the enzyme during gastric transit and enables targeted delivery in the gut.
“This pH-responsive behavior is key,” the authors explained. “It means the biochar can shield the enzyme where it would otherwise be degraded and then release it where it can support gut health.”
Advanced imaging and spectroscopy techniques confirmed that lysozyme molecules were evenly distributed across the biochar surface, rather than forming aggregates. This uniform distribution likely contributes to both the stability and controlled release of the enzyme.
Beyond its functional performance, the approach also highlights the value of agricultural waste. Materials that are typically burned or discarded can be converted into high-value products that support sustainable farming practices. The use of biochar may also provide additional environmental benefits, including reducing emissions and improving nutrient management.
The findings suggest that biochar-based delivery systems could play a role in reducing reliance on antibiotics while improving animal health and productivity. Although the current study focuses on livestock applications, the researchers note that similar strategies could be explored in other areas, including human nutrition and pharmaceutical delivery.
“This work opens the door to a new class of biochar applications,” the authors said. “By combining waste valorization with advanced material design, we can create solutions that are both effective and environmentally responsible.”
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Journal Reference: Guagliano, M., Reggi, S., Dell’Anno, M. et al. Smart waste-derived materials for feed application: chestnut shells and vine pruning biochar. Biochar 8, 39 (2026).
https://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-025-00557-w
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About Biochar
Biochar (e-ISSN: 2524-7867) is the first journal dedicated exclusively to biochar research, spanning agronomy, environmental science, and materials science. It publishes original studies on biochar production, processing, and applications—such as bioenergy, environmental remediation, soil enhancement, climate mitigation, water treatment, and sustainability analysis. The journal serves as an innovative and professional platform for global researchers to share advances in this rapidly expanding field.
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The research, published in Biochar, explores how biochar can act as a carrier for lysozyme, a natural antimicrobial enzyme commonly found in egg whites. Scientists developed a simple and environmentally friendly method to attach lysozyme onto biochar particles and tested how well the system works under conditions that mimic the digestive tract of young pigs.
“Our goal was to design a sustainable delivery system that protects sensitive bioactive molecules in the stomach and releases them where they are most effective, in the intestine,” said the study’s lead author. “Biochar offers a unique combination of porosity, surface chemistry, and stability that makes it an ideal candidate.”
Antimicrobial resistance is a growing global concern, driven in part by the overuse of antibiotics in both human medicine and agriculture. In livestock farming, especially during stressful stages such as weaning, animals are vulnerable to disease and often require antibiotic treatments. Functional feed additives like lysozyme have emerged as promising alternatives, but their effectiveness is limited because they can degrade in the acidic environment of the stomach.
To address this challenge, the research team tested two types of biochar produced from waste biomass. One was derived from chestnut shells and the other from vine pruning residues. Both materials were shown to effectively bind lysozyme using a mild, water-based process.
The study found that the biochar carriers could load significant amounts of lysozyme while maintaining its stability. More importantly, release experiments revealed that the system behaves differently under varying pH conditions. At low pH, similar to the stomach, only a very small amount of lysozyme was released. At neutral pH, similar to the intestine, release increased, indicating that the biochar helps protect the enzyme during gastric transit and enables targeted delivery in the gut.
“This pH-responsive behavior is key,” the authors explained. “It means the biochar can shield the enzyme where it would otherwise be degraded and then release it where it can support gut health.”
Advanced imaging and spectroscopy techniques confirmed that lysozyme molecules were evenly distributed across the biochar surface, rather than forming aggregates. This uniform distribution likely contributes to both the stability and controlled release of the enzyme.
Beyond its functional performance, the approach also highlights the value of agricultural waste. Materials that are typically burned or discarded can be converted into high-value products that support sustainable farming practices. The use of biochar may also provide additional environmental benefits, including reducing emissions and improving nutrient management.
The findings suggest that biochar-based delivery systems could play a role in reducing reliance on antibiotics while improving animal health and productivity. Although the current study focuses on livestock applications, the researchers note that similar strategies could be explored in other areas, including human nutrition and pharmaceutical delivery.
“This work opens the door to a new class of biochar applications,” the authors said. “By combining waste valorization with advanced material design, we can create solutions that are both effective and environmentally responsible.”
===
Journal Reference: Guagliano, M., Reggi, S., Dell’Anno, M. et al. Smart waste-derived materials for feed application: chestnut shells and vine pruning biochar. Biochar 8, 39 (2026).
https://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-025-00557-w
===
About Biochar
Biochar (e-ISSN: 2524-7867) is the first journal dedicated exclusively to biochar research, spanning agronomy, environmental science, and materials science. It publishes original studies on biochar production, processing, and applications—such as bioenergy, environmental remediation, soil enhancement, climate mitigation, water treatment, and sustainability analysis. The journal serves as an innovative and professional platform for global researchers to share advances in this rapidly expanding field.
Follow us on Facebook, X, and Bluesky.
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