Biorefinery and Valorization Strategies for Sugarcane Bagasse: Integrating Food, Health, Economic, and Industrial Applications

Sugarcane bagasse, a fibrous by-product of sugar extraction, is a renewable lignocellulosic biomass with great potential for sustainable value addition across energy, food, health, and industrial sectors. This review summarizes recent advances, key performance metrics, and research gaps in the biorefinery and valorization of sugarcane bagasse. Optimized pretreatment and fermentation have achieved bioethanol yields of 3.7% v/v and methane production of 347.6 mL CH₄/g volatile solids, highlighting its bioenergy potential. Bagasse-derived cellulose and nanocellulose enable biodegradable packaging with excellent mechanical and barrier properties, reducing reliance on plastics. In food and feed, bagasse flour increases dietary fiber by 32.39%, improves gut health, and enhances livestock productivity. Additional applications include pollutant adsorption, composite reinforcement, soil enrichment, and enzyme production. However, large-scale utilization is hindered by high costs and regulatory challenges. Future research should emphasize green technologies, safety assessments, and integration into circular bio-economy frameworks.