Waste reduction
Fresh tomato by-products have been considered an environmental nuisance for a long time (Rabak, 1917). In some countries, the waste is dumped in waterbodies near the factory or left to accumulate on the site of production. The material spoils quickly, emits a very foul odour and provides a breeding place for a variety of pests such as flies and mosquitoes, which are hosts of disease-causing organisms (Caluya et al., 2003). Feeding animals with tomato by-products is, therefore, a valuable way to prevent environmental contamination (del Valle et al., 2006; Caluya et al., 2003).
GM tomatoes
Genetically modified tomatoes containing a gene preventing the accumulation of polygalacturonase, an enzyme involved in the ripening process, were released in the mid-1990s, first as fresh fruits and then as tomato paste. These products were eventually commercial failures and, after an initial success, the GM tomato paste was removed from the market in 1999. In 2011, no GM tomatoes were commercially available (Bruening et al., 2000; GMO Compass, 2006).