Sustainable valorisation of melon (Cucumis melo L.) peel: From waste to high-value ingredients in circular food systems

As the global population grows within limited natural resources, building sustainable food systems has become urgent. Maximising value from the food supply chain is a promising approach for implementation of sustainable food systems. This has prompted a shift in perceptions of food waste, transforming it from a burden into a valuable ingredient across various applications. Melon ( Cucumis melo L.) is a widely cultivated commercial horticulture crop, and its processing chain generates considerable waste. Melon peel accounts for 20-44% of total fruit weight and is largely underutilised, often discarded in landfills. However, melon peel remains high potential value, such as polysaccharides and bioactive compounds. To this end, this review provides an overview of the potential value of melon peel and the utilisation approaches developed to date across various applications, aiming to reduce melon peel waste and promote its utilisation in the food system. Overall, this review could provide useful information to contribute to achieving a complete resource valorisation loop of melon peel and the shift towards a more sustainable food system.