Advancing Sustainable Utilization of Date Palm, Phoenix dactylifera, a Multifunctional Resource for Agro-Industrial Applications

The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.), a versatile crop in arid regions, offers immense potential beyond its edible fruit. Rich in compositions of carbohydrates, dietary fibers, proteins, vitamins, and antioxidants, dates are widely consumed, while other plant parts (seeds and leaves) are frequently overlooked. Traditionally discarded or repurposed to low-value uses like animal feed, these by-products possess untapped potential for high-value applications. Hence, this review presents comprehensive analysis of multifunctional applications of date palm resources, emphasizing their role in bioproduct developments as food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. A key innovation of this work lies in its holistic approach to date palm utilization, framed within the context of the circular bioeconomy. In addition to product-oriented applications, this review introduces a novel concept of using date palm as biomonitoring and bioremediation agent. The plant’s physiological responses to environmental pollutants and contaminants position it as a promising tool for environmental assessment and remediation. This dual-purpose role enhances the eco-logical and economic value of the date palm. This review also examines traditional and modern irrigation systems used in date palm cultivation, comparing their efficiency, adaptability, and sustainability. Furthermore, this review identifies research challenges, including the need for standardization of extraction and processing methods, as well as outlines future directions for enhancing the global impact of date palm-based biorefineries, particularly through the integration of precision irrigation and remote sensing. This review contributes original insights to the evolving discourse on sustainable resource utilization, positioning the date palm as a climate-resilient, low-waste innovation model crop.