SOUTH DAKOTA: SDSU and USDA NIFA Avocado Research Study

Can avocado peels help curb a plastic waste problem? According to a study conducted by Srinivas Janaswamy, an associate professor in South Dakota State University's Department of Dairy and Food Science, and Shafaet Ahmed, a graduate research assistant working under Janaswamy's tutelage, the fibers of avocado peels could possibly be used to make biodegradable films — something that could ultimately replace plastic as a packaging material. Funding for this project was provided by the USDA NIFA. This study was published in Industrial Crops and Products.