Comprehensive and Efficient Development of Peanut Value: Technological Innovation, Industrial Chain Extension, and Sustainable Development

The peanut (Arachis hypogaea), a globally significant oilseed and economic crop, offers nutritional and financial benefits. As the world’s leading producer and consumer of peanuts, China achieved a total output of 18.3 million tons in 2023. However, traditional peanut processing remains dominated by oil extraction, resulting in a short industrial chain, low added value, and underutilization of byproducts such as shells and meal. Against the backdrop of consumption upgrading, technological advancements, and carbon neutrality goals, peanut value’s comprehensive and efficient development has emerged as a critical challenge for agricultural modernization. This article explores viable strategies for enhancing peanut value across the entire industrial chain, focusing on four dimensions: industrial chain extension, technological innovation, high-value utilization of byproducts, and sustainable development models.

I. Value Chain Mapping of the Peanut Industry

Every stage of the peanut supply chain—from field to table—holds potential for value addition, structured into five core modules:

1. Cultivation and Preprocessing: Varietal optimization, green cultivation, mechanized harvesting, and graded storage.
2. Primary Processing: Shelling, oil pressing, and roasting.
3. Deep Processing: Protein extraction, functional food development, and bio-based material synthesis.
4. Byproduct Utilization: Resource recovery from shells, red skins, and meal.
5. End Markets: Cross-sector applications in food, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and energy.

For instance, U.S.-based ADM has enhanced its comprehensive profit margin by over 40% through full-chain integration, producing peanut oil, protein powder, and dietary fibers for diverse sectors including food, feed, and industrial adhesives.

II. Technology-Driven Pathways for High-Efficiency Peanut Utilization

1. Integrated Oil and Protein Production
   • Low-Temperature Pressing Co-Production: Utilizing screw presses (≤60°C) yields cold-pressed peanut oil (retaining ≥30 mg/100g vitamin E) and low-denaturation meal (protein solubility NSI ≥80%).
   • Aqueous Enzymatic Extraction: Combining cellulase and protease achieves 95% extraction efficiency, producing solvent-free oil and soluble protein compliant with EU EFSA standards.
   • Case Study: Shandong Luwei Group’s ¥230 million enzymatic production line supplies Beyond Meat with 15,000 tons/year of high-purity peanut protein.
2. Precision Extraction of Functional Compounds
   • Supercritical CO₂ Extraction: Obtains ≥98% purity resveratrol from red skins (3–5 kg/ton, market price ~¥2,000/kg).
   • Membrane Separation: Isolates low-molecular-weight peptides (<1,000 Da) for medical foods and cosmetics.
3. Intelligent Processing Systems
   • AI Sorting: Hyperspectral imaging (400–1,000 nm) detects moldy or insect-damaged peanuts with ≥99.5% accuracy.
   • IoT-Enabled Production: Real-time monitoring reduces energy consumption by 15% and stabilizes residual oil rates within ±0.3%.

III. High-Value Byproduct Utilization Strategies

Byproducts constitute 30–40% of raw peanuts, offering untapped “urban mining” opportunities:

1. Shell Applications
   • Activated carbon (surface area ≥1,200 m²/g) for wastewater treatment or battery electrodes.
   • Biomass pellets (4,500 kcal/kg) replacing coal.
   • PLA composite biodegradable cutlery (20% cost reduction vs. pure PLA).
   • Case Study: A Kaifeng, Henan enterprise generates ¥60 million/year from 5,000 tons of shell-derived activated carbon.
2. Meal Valorization
   • Probiotic-enriched feed (crude protein ≥50%).
   • Functional additives: hypoglycemic polysaccharides or natural preservatives (phytic acid).
   • Microbial-enhanced biofertilizers for soil improvement.
3. Waste Recycling
   • Biogas (60–70% methane) from anaerobic digestion of oil wastewater.
   • Composted residues for closed-loop “cultivation-processing-waste-cultivation” systems.

IV. Market-Driven Product Innovation

1. Health-Focused Foods
   • Plant-based meat (textured peanut protein) and high-protein energy bars.
   • Functional snacks: low-GI peanut butter, probiotic-coated peanuts.
2. Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Applications
   • Peanut shell lignin as a drug-delivery matrix.
   • Moisturizers with cold-pressed oil-derived squalene.
   • Tumor-targeting peanut lectin (PNA) research.
3. Industrial and Energy Solutions
   • Biodiesel (ASTM D6751-compliant FAME from transesterification).
   • Formaldehyde-free, protein-based adhesives for wood composites.

V. Sustainable Development Frameworks

1. Eco-Cultivation and Emission Reduction
   • Drought-resistant varieties (e.g., Yuhua 37) cut irrigation by 30%.
   • Straw recycling and precision fertilization reduce nitrogen use by 20%.
   • Solar-powered “zero-carbon” processing plants.
2. Industrial Synergy and Clustering
   • “Cooperative-Enterprise-Research” alliances for resource sharing.
   • Regional hubs (e.g., Junan, Shandong; Zhengyang, Henan) optimize logistics and waste management.
3. Policy and Standardization
   • Green Peanut Industry Guidelines mandate carbon caps and resource efficiency.
   • Tax incentives (e.g., 50% VAT refunds) for high-value projects.

VI. Challenges and Countermeasures

• Technology Transfer Barriers: Establish industry-university R&D funds and pilot bases.
• Consumer Education Gaps: Promote “peanuts = healthy fats” via nutrition campaigns.
• Global Competition: Develop GI brands (e.g., Zhengyang Peanuts) for premium markets.

Conclusion: Peanut value creation has evolved from single-product extraction to holistic resource utilization. Through technological innovation, industrial chain expansion, and sustainability initiatives, the sector aims to double per-mu yields while halving environmental footprints. Emerging fields like synthetic biology and AI promise revolutionary applications, positioning peanuts as a paradigm for agricultural modernization.