Dry seeds of peas (Pisum sativum L.) have long been used as a staple food and feed globally, and its nutritional, health and ecological benefits comply with growing demand for novel vegan foods intended for health and sustainability conscious individuals. The aim of this study was to review research findings and latest information on field pea usage as a functional ingredient in vegan foods. Monographic method was used to analyse field pea Pisum sativum L. usage as a diverse and multifunctional ingredient in vegan foods, covering latest available information on chemical composition of field pea and main food ingredients made from field pea, focusing on the varieties from which yellow split pea is produced; their impact on ready product’s nutrition, sensory properties and application in food industry. Major types of novel vegan foods containing field peas available on market were named. Pea protein, starch and fibre have demonstrated functional properties in different food systems, including – emulsification, oil-in-water system stabilisation, texture modification, binding, gelation, foaming, and solubility. It is functionally possible and nutritionally and ecologically desirable to develop novel vegan foods intended as animal product alternatives with acceptable sensory properties.

Large amounts of waste and by-products which are suitable for further use are generated in the food production chain. Globally, one-third of the food produced virtually becomes waste, in total 1.3 billion tonnes per year. The livestock sector is experiencing new challenges in the food and feed supply chain and waste valorization and there is a considerable diversity in animal origin food processing systems and broad knowledge base of expertise across Europe. However, due to local food production peculiarities, there is a considerable discrepancy in the waste management and processing methodology. An increasing amount of different novel feed and new functional food is available. These new products require a proper authentication and health and safety verification. Available know-how is increasing exponentially and therefore the potential for new and old bioactive component production from various currently poorly used materials is huge. Similarly, our knowledge about threats and food/feed safety is increasing. It is crucial to keep the balance between these processes. There are also several obstacles in data harmonization (data collection, used methodologies and reliability) and in data quality (lack of the comparability and completeness). The aim of the paper is to summarize the challenges in food research related to latest developments in methods.

In the fish processing sector, the further exploitation of by-products and wastes left after industrial production promotes sustainability of raw materials, access to added value and increased profitability, as well as contributes to environmental protection by reducing the volume of dumped products. Besides obvious value-added features, it also addresses the clear market demand dictated by prospects of the population growth. Given the limitations for further expansion of the husbandry sector, fish-based items available for human consumption represent a major avenue for coping with the pressing demands of increased population and enable the development of innovative food items of high nutritional importance. Current research is focused on the analysis of fish processing by-product utilization possibilities available up to date and introduces empirical findings of innovative food product development made on the basis of by-products left after traditional canned “Sprats in oil” production. In Latvia, “Sprats in oil” production is an integral part of fish processing sector and the rural economy overall. The production accounts for at least 30% of raw material left as by-products (smoked heads and, in some cases, tails) after such technological stage as smoked sprats processing into cans. Efforts were made to prepare value-added and attractive to customer food product made out of this fish-processing by-products, which are typically processed to a fishmeal or just dumped as waste. The study demonstrates a strong potential for its utilization to a range of fish pâté with various flavours and of high nutritious value.