**Abstract**

Composting is a process of degrading organic waste to form a stable material through a control process called aerobics with a biodegradation conversion process that allows the colonization of beneficial microorganisms. Careful handling of inorganic waste was significant to reducing the cost of compounding livestock feed and minimizing waste disposal in the community. Innovative technologies can inactivate pathogens in organic waste. Compost has been found to be effective in stimulating plant growth and suppressing diseases and pathogens. Safety standards remains essential for producing food rich in proteins. The use of compost can sufficiently address the challenges of malnutrition and poverty worldwide. Composting through invertebrates was also found to be significant. This is the basis upon which life exists because of the continued recycling of waste. Food security and safety goes hand in hand with the use of compost. None of these parameters must be overlooked if food production is required to meet the needs of the continuously growing population in the future.

**Keywords:** Compost, food safety, food security

## **1. Introduction**

Food availability in many regions of the world has become inefficient. This has resolved into malnutrition and inadequate access among small communities in different parts of the world [1]. In this regard, innovative ideas are required to convert organic waste into compost and animal feed, which is pathogen free [1, 2]. In other words, compost is an organic substance that prioritizes food safety and security [2]. It is a source of energy that is required to provide nutrients to sustain biodiversity [2]. The inorganic components of a compost include (N, P, K, and S), secondary nutrients (Ca and Mg), and micro nutrients (B, Cl, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, and Zn) [2, 3]. It plays an important role in building resilience farming systems [3, 4]. It is an organic source and nutrient source in greenhouse horticulture [5]. It is a growth medium for nursery plants. It decreases the total cost associated with fertilizer and pesticides and improves nutrient retention within vegetative systems by reducing erosion and leaching [5]. Livestock manure also contains large numbers of pathogenic microorganisms [6, 7]. These organisms can pose risks to human health. These pathogens are easily transmitted from animals to humans through diverse means, such as feed processing from waste, direct contact and others. Livestock

manure is used for composting [6, 7]. Some farmers applied manure directly to the farm without pretreatment [6, 7]. Livestock manure contains toxic heavy metals that may affect plant growth and reduce the efficiency of agricultural land [7, 8]. Excessive application can impair nutrient elements and are often leached beneath the reach. These toxic heavy metals not only affect plants but also animals through grazing on fertilized pasture land via ingestion [6–8]. The presence of these heavy metals (**Table 1**) in the body tissue is detrimental to human health [6–8]. These attributes of livestock manure, however call for safety and security [6–8]. The use of modern technology is required to produce a compost that is more reliable and resilient at suppressing the global distribution of soil-borne pathogens that threaten food security [5–8]. According to research findings, effective control of Rhizoctoria can be prepared from lignocellulosic substrates such as tree bark, which colonize Trichoderma spp. [9]. Compost products based on poultry are hosted by *Rhizoctonia spp. solari* and *Escherichia. coli* [9]. Composting is a biological process through which microorganisms convert organic materials into useful end products, which may be used as soil conditioners and/or organic fertilizers [9, 10]. It is a thermophilic process that stimulates the action of microorganisms to digest organic waste under aerobic conditions to produce an end product that is stable and free of pathogens. Aerated compost teas (ACT) are products in which the compost-water extract is actively aerated during the fermentation process [8–10]. Non-aerated compost teas (NCT) are products in which the compost-water extract is not aerated or receives minimal aeration only at the initial mixing stage of the fermentation process [9, 10]. Compost performs the functions of fertility and carbon sequestration in thermophilic phases [9, 10]. This allows compost to mature and be cured. One of the biggest initiatives is to develop sustainable solutions to end hunger and achieve food security through small-scale farmers and sustainable food production systems [9–11]. Research


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**Figure 1.**

*Composting and Organic Waste Recycling a Better Option for Food Safety and Food Security*

has focused on identifying the most sustainable and safe strategies for food waste [9–11]. This is a priority for turning waste into a resource by valorizing them into the agri-food supply chain [9–11]. **Figure 1** above, however describes the influence of

According to the United Nation findings in 2019, the world population was estimated to be 7.7 billion and was projected to be 9.7 billion in 2050 [2, 3]. In the recent times, hunger and food insecurity has become a global problem [2, 3]. Undernourishment or micronutrient deficiency was aggravated due to increasing population. Likewise, health challenges e.g. obesity may become an issue by 2025 [2, 3]. This is because human nutrition increases with increasing consumption of sugar, oils and fat compared to proteins [4]. Looking at the future, the demand for animal product such as meat may become unsustainable by 2050 [4]. In order to make provision for this, meat production is expected to double the amount of 455 million tons by 2050 [2, 3]. The production of poultry is increasing at alarming rate compared to livestock production [12]. The consumption of chicken meat and eggs has become a major source of proteins across the globe. Unfortunately, the food production may not be proportionate to human consumption due to finite natural resources [12, 13]. Urban development and industrial revolution has drastically influence the availability of land for food production. It was also estimated that

untreated livestock waste on the ecosystem.

**2. Organic waste as a supplement in animal feed**

*Influence of untreated livestock waste on the ecosystem sourced: [11].*

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.97683*

#### **Table 1.**

*Trace elements and heavy metal available in untreated livestock waste source: [7].*

*Composting and Organic Waste Recycling a Better Option for Food Safety and Food Security DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.97683*

**Figure 1.** *Influence of untreated livestock waste on the ecosystem sourced: [11].*

has focused on identifying the most sustainable and safe strategies for food waste [9–11]. This is a priority for turning waste into a resource by valorizing them into the agri-food supply chain [9–11]. **Figure 1** above, however describes the influence of untreated livestock waste on the ecosystem.
