Cereal Biomass Valorization for Functional Food Ingredients: Fractionation and Circular Biorefinery Strategies

ABSTRACT

Food processing must transition toward resource‐efficient systems that operate within planetary boundaries. Cereals, as climate‐resilient staples, offer strong potential to valorize nutrient‐rich fractions. Zero‐waste biorefinery concepts and green fractionation technologies, integrated with structure–function principles, enable the conversion of whole‐grain biomass into functional ingredients for food applications. This review systematically evaluates recent advances in fractionation and separation technologies, including nonthermal physical and biochemical approaches. A Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA)‐guided analysis of peer‐reviewed articles (2020–2025) was conducted to assess extraction strategies, functional performance, and sustainability‐related aspects. Mechanistic insights into recovered biopolymers are discussed to design process–functional relationships, with an emphasis on fractionation strategies such as synergistic recovery, fraction precision, and yield optimization relative to process complexity. The analysis shows that 46.75% of studies focused on common grains, whereas 53.25% utilized side streams (42.86% bran) for the recovery of proteins (32.47%), fibers (55.84%), lipids (10.39%), and phytochemicals (89.61%). Although hybrid techniques enhanced selectivity, multi‐fraction recovery, and the preservation of biopolymer functionality, linear pathways dominated (70.13%), particularly in ultrasound‐assisted methods (57.14%). Few studies investigated whole‐system biorefinery approaches (14.29%), sustainability assessments (<5%), or pilot‐scale validation (10.39%). Findings reveal critical opportunities for integrating life cycle assessment, techno‐economic analysis, and digital modeling to facilitate scale‐up and industrial translation. Furthermore, underutilized crops and industrial residues show promise for circular valorization. The review highlights the potential of sustainable biorefineries to reduce waste, enhance resource efficiency, and support circular‐driven food innovation.