Implementação e melhoria contínua de controle de qualidade de um biofertilizante obtido a partir da fermentação de resíduos da indústria de beneficiamento do camarão

Abstract

Population growth has led to a series of environmental and economic concerns. In the agricultural sector, the search for new cultivation alternatives and products capable of accelerating crop growth and mitigating emerging factors that negatively affect agricultural production has become one of the main challenges of the current century. As a result, new ideas have emerged with innovative applications and agile methodologies, such as the use of biological inputs, biofertilizers, and plant biostimulants derived from the fermentative processes of lactic acid bacteria (LAB). The implementation of quality control methods that ensure process efficiency, as well as the quality and purity of the microorganisms used and the standardization of the final product, is mandatory and essential within the industry. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate, improve, and implement quality control standards and processes applicable to a biofertilizer obtained through a microbiological process from shrimp waste, in accordance with current regulations and legislation. The methodology was based on the implementation of microbiological analyses (viable cell counts, total coliforms, and pathogens) and physicochemical analyses (moisture, ash content, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), fluorescence microscopy, temperature, and pH) of the raw material, the microorganisms employed, and the final product. The results demonstrated that the implementation of the analytical methods was satisfactory and ensured the safety of the biofertilizer in compliance with legislation for its use as an agricultural bioinput. In addition, the analyses made it possible to identify opportunities for process improvement and standardization, ensuring the safety and traceability of the final product. Thus, the adoption of these methods contributes to the supply of bioinputs with adequate levels of micro- and macronutrients, while also representing a sustainable and efficient alternative to chemical inputs that degrade soil, impact aquatic ecosystems, and reduce the quality of soil microbiota. Consequently, this study highlights the importance of quality control in ensuring safe products aligned with current demands for more sustainable agriculture, as well as in promoting operational efficiency and continuous process improvement.