Tomato waste can generate electricity

​New York: Damaged tomatoes unsuitable for sale can be used as a powerful source of generating electricity, says a study involving Indian-origin scientists.

"We have found that spoiled and damaged tomatoes left over from harvest can be a particularly powerful source of energy when used in a biological or microbial electrochemical cell," said Namita Shrestha from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

The research findings were presented at the 251st National Meeting and Exposition of the American Chemical Society held in California's San Diego city. Tomatoes are a key crop in Florida.

The project is important to the state because Florida generates 396,000 tonnes of tomato waste every year, but lacks a good treatment process. The team developed a microbial electrochemical cell that can exploit tomato waste to generate electric current.