ENEA has identified some beneficial molecules found in coffee that can be used to develop new products in the food, nutraceutical, cosmetic and agricultural fields. Published in the trade journal Plants, the research was conducted with the support of several Mexican research institutes and the International Italo-Latin American Organization (IILA). The study is of particular note as it highlights the properties of cascara (dried husk), among the hitherto least studied by-products of coffee. "Coffee bean wastes are often considered a problem but, thanks to scientific research, they can be transformed into 'mines' of beneficial molecules, such as antioxidants, polyphenols, carotenoids, flavonoids and minerals, to make value-added products for various sectors," explains ENEA researcher Loretta Bacchetta, coauthor of the study with colleagues Oliviero Maccioni (Laboratory of Circular Regenerative Bioeconomics), Gianfranco Diretto and Sarah Frusciante (GREEN Biotechnology Laboratory). "We identified the highest ever number of non-volatile molecules in dried cascara, as many as 93, paving the way for its better reuse, in line with circular economy and bioeconomy principles, generating additional income for coffee farmers," adds Bacchetta.